Denis Coles convicted 50 years later for 1973 rape in Cardiff
- Denis Coles was convicted of raping an 11-year-old girl in Cardiff in 1977, with DNA evidence linking him to the crime.
- The victim, who was alone at the time, described the attack as the most traumatic night of her life and expressed mixed feelings about the outcome of the trial.
- The judge noted that Coles would have received a substantial custodial sentence if he had been fit to plead, emphasizing the need for his supervision.
Denis Coles was found guilty of raping an 11-year-old girl in Cardiff in 1977, nearly 50 years after the crime. The victim, who has remained anonymous, recounted the traumatic experience of being attacked while walking home from Girl Guides. On that fateful day, she was alone due to her brother's illness, and Coles, then 26, approached her under the pretense of asking for the time before assaulting her. After the attack, he instructed her to count to 50 before fleeing the scene. Despite the passage of time, DNA evidence collected from the victim's clothing matched Coles, with a probability of at least one billion. Although he was not fit to plead, the judge expressed that had he been able to, he would have faced a significant prison sentence. The victim shared her feelings of disbelief and relief upon learning that her attacker had been identified, although she felt that true justice had not been served due to the circumstances of the trial. The victim described the ordeal as a nightmare that she had to relive during the trial of facts, but she also expressed hope for a brighter future. The judge emphasized the need for Coles to be supervised by the probation service, acknowledging the severe impact of his actions on the victim's life. Detective Superintendent Tom Moore from South Wales Police commended the victim's strength and trust in the police, highlighting the importance of bringing justice to those affected by such heinous crimes.