DAVID COLE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN KEIGHLEY AND POOLE: EX-TEACHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF BOYS

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Keighley and Poole, David Cole, a 57-year-old former physics teacher, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young boys. The conviction was handed down by a jury at Bradford Crown Court, where Cole was found guilty of 13 separate charges involving the rape and indecent assault of a child aged between six and 13 years old.

It was revealed during the trial that Cole had previously served two separate prison sentences, one in 2001 and another in 2013, for similar offenses involving two different boys. All of these crimes took place during the late 1990s to 2001, a period when Cole was residing in the Keighley area. His position as a head of department and physics teacher at the time did little to shield him from justice, as his actions betrayed a pattern of predatory behavior.

The court heard that Cole was responsible for three counts of raping a young boy aged 11 to 13, as well as ten counts of indecently assaulting him multiple times when he was between six and ten years old. The severity of his crimes was compounded by the fact that he targeted vulnerable children, exploiting their trust and innocence.

Currently residing on Durrant Road in Poole, Dorset, Cole’s criminal history includes a notable 2001 conviction at Bradford Crown Court, where he received an extended three-year sentence for gross indecency with a 14-year-old boy and for supplying him with Ecstasy and cannabis. Later, in 2013, he was imprisoned for three years at Bournemouth Crown Court after being convicted of indecent assault and gross indecency involving a 13-year-old boy, whom he met through social media platform Facebook.

During the trial, Cole admitted to three counts of indecent assault and indecency with a male, acknowledging his deviant urges towards teenage boys. He claimed to have undergone extensive sexual offenders’ treatment programs, yet his actions demonstrated a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior. His latest victim, now a man in his 30s, recounted how Cole had drugged him with alcohol and poppers before subjecting him to rape. The victim described how Cole would sneak into his room while he was sleeping and touch him indecently, gradually escalating to more serious sexual assaults.

The victim also revealed that Cole and he would watch television shows like Eurotrash together, and that other young men would visit Cole’s house to smoke and drink. These circumstances contributed to the victim’s feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. He described feeling “horrible inside,” confused, ashamed, and tormented by the abuse he endured. Labeling Cole as a predator, he expressed a sense of helplessness and trappedness, stating, “I felt helpless and trapped. He was a bad person.” He concluded his victim personal statement with a poignant remark: “I don’t deserve to even want praise.”

Judge Recorder Simon Kealey addressed Cole directly during sentencing, emphasizing the lasting impact of his actions. “The terrible things you did have had a continuing and daily effect on him,” the judge said, underscoring the profound harm inflicted on the victim and the community at large.