MICHAEL COLE GUILTY OF INDECENT ASSAULTS IN GWENT AND NORTHWOOD

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Gwent and Northwood, Michael Cole, a 45-year-old former teacher, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault involving young boys. The allegations against Cole, who once served as a trusted and well-liked sports instructor, stem from incidents that took place during his tenure at a school in Northwood between 1988 and 1991.

Despite Cole’s initial attempts to deny the accusations, claiming that the stories were fabricated, the evidence presented in court was overwhelming. An Isleworth Crown Court jury took a remarkably brief 31 minutes to reach a verdict, finding Cole guilty of five counts of indecent assault. This swift decision underscored the strength of the prosecution’s case and the credibility of the victims’ testimonies.

Prior to the trial, Cole had already admitted to possessing 17 counts of making indecent images of children, which further implicated him in the series of offenses. The court heard that Cole, who was responsible for conducting what appeared to be routine health checks, exploited his position of trust to carry out his abusive acts. He would lure young boys into his office under false pretenses, often telling them to strip for supposed health assessments. It was during these encounters that Cole would touch the boys inappropriately for his own sexual gratification, the court was told.

Following the sentencing on Thursday, March 4, Detective Constable Andrew Hargreaves of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Child Abuse Investigation Command expressed his relief at the outcome. He stated, “The evidence against Cole was overwhelming, it took the jury only 31 minutes to find him guilty. I would like to thank the victims for having the courage to come forward and ensure that Cole was held to account for his actions and is never placed in a position of trust again.”

The allegations came to light after three men, now in their 30s, managed to locate Cole through social networking platforms such as Facebook and Bebo. These men, who had been students during Cole’s teaching years, accused him of abusing their trust and subjecting them to inappropriate conduct. Cole, however, dismissed their claims, asserting that the boys had fabricated the stories and that no abuse had occurred.

During the trial, prosecutor Stephanie Dodd detailed the disturbing nature of Cole’s misconduct. She revealed that Cole had not only persuaded one boy to strip but also filmed him with a camcorder placed on his desk. Dodd recounted, “You asked him to take off his clothing. You told him his Achilles injury could be caused by a weakness in his right knee, or over balancing, or even his right groin.”

In response, Cole denied the allegations, stating, “That is completely false.” Dodd further explained that Cole had probed the boy’s groin area while asking him to perform exercises and stretches, all while filming him with the school’s camcorder. Cole vehemently denied these accusations, asserting, “That’s an absolutely appalling thing to say and no, absolutely not.”

The court was also informed that Cole had managed to conceal his inappropriate behavior by making it appear normal, with the young victims unaware that his actions were wrong. The case revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse, which ultimately led to Cole’s resignation from the school in 1991 after one pupil confided in another teacher about sharing a shower cubicle with him.

As the verdict was delivered and Cole was sentenced, the community and the victims alike expressed a sense of justice being served. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and the courage of victims to come forward, ensuring that predators like Cole are held accountable and prevented from harming others in the future.