Sex fiend preyed on village girls

Dangerous paedophile Martyn Coles could face an indeterminate jail term after being convicted of 17 offences against six vulnerable young girls, including three counts of rape.

He had been convicted of 15 offences on Wednesday, and yesterday (Thursday) a jury at Taunton Crown Court found him guilty, by a majority of 11-1, of two more offences – rape and assault on a child under 13.

Coles, 55, an unemployed father of three, of Creedwell Orchard, Milverton, near Taunton, had left the dock when the first guilty verdicts were announced on Wednesday and declined to appear yesterday. Judge Graham Hume Jones adjourned sentencing until later this month but warned he is considering an indeterminate jail term.

The trial, which lasted nine days, was one of the longest in recent years at Taunton Crown Court. Coles denied all the 26 charges, forcing his young victims to give evidence. He was found not guilty of eight offences, including three of rape. One charge fell because it was an alternative to a rape, of which he was convicted.

The jury deliberated over the harrowing evidence for 20 hours and 26 minutes, spread over four days. Yesterday Judge Hume Jones told them that they would be relieved from any further jury service for the rest of their lives. He said: “You leave with the heartfelt thanks of the crown court. This has been a very long and arduous case for you, and also very upsetting and unpleasant, and you are to be commended for the careful and responsible way in which you approached it.”

The court was told that Coles lured the girls, some as young as 11, to his house with “louche” promises of drink, drugs and cigarettes.

He soon began to make explicit and inappropriate remarks, sometimes when they had consumed drink or drugs, and eventually committed a catalogue of offences over an eight-year period. He even committed some offences while giving girls lifts in his car.

His abuse was brought to light when one mother became suspicious, and her daughter, aged 12, told her of Coles’ behaviour.

After the case Detective Constable Mark Fudge, who led the inquiry, said: “I am very pleased that Martyn Coles has been found guilty of some of the most serious offences possible against young children.

 “It has been a long and complex case which has resulted in a very dangerous man being removed from our community.

“Without the bravery and courage of the young girls who actually came to court to give evidence this would not have been possible.”