A VIOLENT sex predator has been jailed for life today for raping three schoolgirls in the 1980s and 1990s.
Derek Coles, 49, of Lord Street, Runcorn must serve a minimum of 13 years and 95 days before he will be considered for release.
He had been convicted of five charges of rape, indecent assault and attempted buggery following a seven day trial at Chester Crown Court.
Coles preyed on three victims, who were known to him, when they were teenagers.
The first victim was aged between 13 and 15 when she suffered persistent sexual abuse over a two year period in the early 1980s.
Most of the assaults took place at Coles’ home.
The pair did have consensual sex but on a number of occasions the victim disclosed that she had been forced into it against her wishes.
She described Coles as ‘controlling and demanding’ and said that he was often violent towards her.
The second victim was 15 when she was attacked in the early 1990s.
She met Coles through a friend during a night out.
Whilst in a taxi together, Coles claimed that he needed to go home to pick something up.
When they arrived at the address he invited the victim inside the property where he raped her.
She managed to escape and ran out of the house onto the road where she flagged down a passing car with a man and woman in it.
She disclosed what had happened and the pair took her home and urged her to tell her parents.
The following day she told a friend but was too ashamed to tell her parents.
The third victim was also 15 when she was raped in the late 1990s.
She was staying at a friend’s house and was on a night out when they were invited to a party at another house.
During the night the victim went upstairs to the bathroom.
As she walked out, the defendant was on the landing and he approached her, pushed her into a bedroom and raped her.
The victim went back downstairs following the incident and ran off immediately as she was scared.
Coles later threatened her not to tell anyone about what had happened.
Coles was arrested in 2014 after one of the victims came forward and reported what had happened to police.
In May 2015 he was subsequently charged with the offences.
PC Stephanie Montague said: “Coles targeted his victims in their teenage years betraying their trust and preying on their vulnerability.
“These women have suffered greatly over the years. They have shown great bravery and courage in coming forward and talking about what happened to them.
“I would like to acknowledge their bravery and courage in supporting this prosecution.
“Coles has shown a blatant disregard for the three victims making them come to court and give evidence during trial and re-living what had happened to them.
“They have been deeply affected and have had to live with this for a long time.”
She hopes the guilty verdict will bring some closure and allow the victims to move forward with their lives.
She added: “We take all allegations of sexual offences extremely seriously no matter how long ago they took place.
“Victims of non-recent sexual offences can have the confidence in coming forward.
“We want to reassure victims that we are committed to tackling this type of crime and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
“The force has a dedicated rape unit that deals specifically with this type of crime and has specialist officers who are able to provide support to victims and witnesses throughout an investigation.
Anyone with any information can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers,
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