ERIC COLE'S SHOCKING CRIME IN BEDFORD AND OXON: PAEDOPHILE'S SENTENCE AND CONTROVERSY

In February 2007, a disturbing case involving Eric Cole, a pensioner with a troubling criminal history, unfolded in the courts of Oxfordshire, specifically in Bedford and Oxon. Cole, who had previously served time for sexual offenses, was once again at the center of a serious incident involving a young girl.

According to court reports, Cole, aged 71 at the time, was convicted of sexually abusing a six-year-old girl. The incident occurred in the garden of her home in Barton, Oxon, on July 31 of the previous year. The girl’s mother discovered Cole attempting to put his hands down her trousers, an act that left her deeply distressed. Initially, Cole denied the allegations, but he later admitted guilt on January 4, 2007.

Despite his prior convictions, which included a 15-month jail sentence for a sexual attack on a 12-year-old girl in 1998, Cole was allowed to walk free from court after his latest admission. The judge presiding over the case, Julian Hall, made a controversial statement, describing Cole’s actions as “quite mild” in criminal terms. The judge then announced that Cole would receive a suspended sentence, a decision that sparked outrage among the victim’s family and members of the public who gathered in the courtroom.

During the sentencing, Judge Hall emphasized the importance of preventing future offenses. He stated that Cole needed help to avoid reoffending and suggested that a Sex Offenders’ Prevention Order would be the best way to protect children in the long term. The court sentenced Cole to nine months in prison, suspended, and ordered him to attend a sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program. Additionally, Cole was prohibited from being alone with children under 16 for the next five years.

In a gesture that drew both criticism and sympathy, the judge ordered Cole to pay £250 in compensation to the young victim. He remarked, “If it buys her a nice new bicycle, that’s the sort of thing that might cheer her up,” a comment that was met with mixed reactions. The case drew further attention due to Judge Hall’s history of emotionally charged courtroom moments, including a tearful departure in September 2006 while reading a statement from a bereaved mother, and a stern warning to a teenager wielding a machete on Oxford’s Abingdon Road two months later.

As the court proceedings concluded, Cole’s presence and the verdict left a lasting impression on those present. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of children and the challenges of managing repeat offenders. The judge’s comments and the leniency of the sentence continue to provoke debate about justice and protection in cases involving sexual abuse of minors.