Paedophile priest jailed for 8 years

By TOM PUGH
Published on 15/02/2013 01:00

A PAEDOPHILE retired Church of England priest has been jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to historic sex offences against young boys dating back to the 1970s.

In December, Robert Coles, 71, admitted a serious sexual assault and four indecent assaults on one victim and three indecent assaults against two other boys. The offences took place in West Sussex and elsewhere in the late 1970s and early 1980s against boys aged between 10 and 16 at the time.

Coles, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, was due to face trial on 
10 June on seven further alleged sex offences suspected to have been committed against the 
victims. But prosecutor Ryan Richter told Brighton Crown Court the outstanding charges would not be proceeded with following consultation with the victims and Sussex Police.

Judge Guy Anthony advised that the seven charges would lie on the court file and the retired clergyman was jailed for the 
11 offences he pleaded guilty to.