Rapist 'preyed on young girls'

Coles stormed out of the court as guilty verdicts were announced

A paedophile convicted of a string of rapes and sexual assaults against girls as young as 11 has been told he faces an indeterminate prison sentence.

Martyn Coles, 55, preyed on "vulnerable and impressionable" girls, luring them to his home with the promise of drink, drugs and cigarettes.

He was convicted of 17 charges, including rape, all of which took place at his home in Milverton, Somerset.

Judge Graham Hume Jones deferred sentencing to the end of the month.

Coles was not in the dock at Taunton Crown Court to hear the convictions read out, having stormed out of the court on Wednesday when the jury began returning guilty verdicts.

The 17 convictions included three of rape and sexual abuse against underage girls.

He was found not guilty on eight other charges.

Repeated denials

The offences related to six girls who gave evidence via video link in a trial lasting two weeks.

Coles, who remains in custody, claimed none of the offences occurred and said the children had concocted the allegations.

The house in Milverton where the offences took place

He admitted befriending the girls, and on occasion offering accommodation when they had been thrown out by parents.

He repeatedly denied sexual abuse, telling the court their evidence amounted to the girls "getting together and getting bitchy".

Speaking after the verdicts were read out, investigating officer Det Con Mark Fudge said: "It's been very, very painful for them [the victims] to do.

"It's been brave and courageous for them to come to court and actually give evidence in front of everybody."

The guilty verdicts followed nearly four days of deliberation by the jury, who were released from the obligation of jury duty for life by the judge.

He told them: "It's been a long, arduous, and upsetting case."