An incest dad from Wiltshire is back behind bars – after ‘getting intimate’ with another daughter.
Robert Cole made contact with his estranged child, 20-year-old Amy Cole-Martin, before engaging in sexual activity with her on 30 July last year.
Salisbury Crown Court heard that the police became aware following a report of rape – which was later found to be a false allegation made by his daughter.
Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said that Cole-Martin claimed she had been raped by Cole and attended the Sexual Assault Referral Centre for examination.
However, the following day she told officers that the sex was consensual and she had cried rape because she “wanted people to feel sorry for her”.
Mr Shellard said that Cole’s crime was “remarkably similar” to his previous offending. He was jailed for having sexual activity with a different daughter, 19-year-old Justine Henley, in 2018.
Both women were described as being “vulnerable” with mental health issues.
The court was told that father-of-five Cole, of King Street, Melksham and formerly of Chippenham, committed the new offence shortly after his prison licence period ended.
“He comes out of prison and after the expiry of the licence period and soon thereafter, he does it again with another daughter”, Mr Shellard added.
Barrister Christopher Pix, defending, said that “this is a rather sad individual and a rather sad set of facts”.
He said that his client “does suffer with his mental health to some extent and does suffer with his learning” – adding that the 45-year-old has had a “troubled past” and an “unfortunate childhood”.
Mr Pix said that Cole “wishes to express his considerable remorse to the court… he is very distressed about the effect on others”.
He continued: “He is now in a stable relationship and is supported in court by his current partner – who is of course fully aware of the circumstances.”
At the sentencing hearing on 25 August, Judge Andrew Barnett said Cole’s previous conviction and subsequent stint in prison for having sexual relations with this other daughter was “of enormous concern”.
He added: “These matters can only have occurred when you were shortly released from that sentence.
“You have a very difficult and troubled background but that is no excuse for the dreadful act you committed with your daughter.”
Judge Barnett imposed a 15-month immediate prison sentence and slapped Cole with a ten-year restraining order to prevent contact with Cole-Martin.
Judge Feest KC, sitting at Winchester Crown Court on 1 December, handed Cole-Martin, of Wilton Road, Salisbury, a nine-month community order after she admitted having sexual activity with an adult relative.
He said: “Whilst ordinarily imprisonment follows, for you a community order is appropriate.”
