Paul Leslie Cole, 70, who raped and sexually assaulted two girls in the 1980s is jailed for 24 years following Winchester Crown Court hearing

A man who raped and sexually assaulted two girls in the 1980s has been jailed for 24 years.

Some of the offences took place in Mortimer Common.

Paul Leslie Cole, 70, of Arundel Road, Great Yarmouth, was found guilty of nine offences including rape and indecent assault during a trial in October this year.

Yesterday (Monday) Cole was jailed, following a hearing at Winchester Crown Court.

The sentence follows an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary’s Operation Marmion team, which specialises in investigating non-recent sexual offences on children.

The trial heard that one of the victims contacted police in 2020 to report the offences, which took place between 1981 and 1984 when she was a girl under the age of 16.

Cole was reported to have raped and sexually abused the girl during this period in Mortimer Common and at an address in London.

The indictment stated that these offences were jointly carried out with another man – Derek Flintham, previously of St Dunstans Road, Hounslow.

The trial heard that he was part of the investigation but died at the age of 82 in 2022, before any charges were made.

Officers spoke to another woman, as part of their enquiries, and re-investigated offences that she had previously reported to another force.

The woman was raped and sexually assaulted by Cole in Basingstoke at his home address, her home, and at a secluded location he had driven her to during a period between 1987 and 1990, when she was a teenager.

The two girls were not known to each other.

During the trial, prosecutors successfully argued that it was no coincidence two women unknown to each other would report the same man for sexual crimes – both presenting corroborated evidence of Cole’s description, addresses, employment and other information at the time of the offences.

Cole was charged and found guilty of nine out of 11 offences that he had denied at trial.

During the sentence hearing, the judge told Cole that his “appalling behaviour” had “effectively ruined” the lives of the two victims.

Speaking afterwards, officer in the case DC Nicky Howard said: “I would like to thank the two women for the bravery they have shown during this investigation.

“Their courage has meant that Cole will be behind bars for a long time, where he deserves to be.

“We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse to contact us on 101.

“You will be able to speak to our specialist detectives in confidence.

“We recognise that not everyone has the confidence to speak to police, but there are support services available that can help you if you are a victim of abuse.

“Anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood or is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline confidentially on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

“Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.”

Senior district crown prosecutor Louise Holmes said: “Paul Cole fooled members of the community into believing he was an honest, hardworking family man.

“In reality, he was a cruel rapist who preyed on children for his own selfish sexual gratification.

“Both victims were unknown to each other and bravely came forward separately years after suffering at Cole’s hands.

“Their evidence of how Cole abused them was similar and piecing that evidence together was crucial for our prosecution team, who carefully unravelled Cole’s guilt to the jury.

“Our message to victims of historic sex abuse is clear – it is never too late to achieve justice.”

As well as his custodial sentence, Cole received a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.