In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that John Paul Coles, 35, was found guilty of indecently assaulting two boys after a trial where he falsely claimed to have served in the Royal Marines to discredit his victims. On appearing at Caernarfon Crown Court, the defendant—a carpenter of Isgraig, Tremadog, near Porthmadog—was convicted of six counts of indecent assault. It was reported that the offences occurred over a 12-month period between 2001 and 2002 at the victims’ home, but the details only emerged nearly two decades later when one survivor told his family.
The investigation established the deceptive measures Coles used to evade responsibility. North Wales Police reported that Coles initially denied even meeting the boys and claimed he could not have committed the offences because he had joined the Royal Marines. The prosecution reported that Ministry of Defence checks proved this was a total fabrication. The investigation established that during cross-examination, Coles was forced to admit he had lied about his military service, yet he continued to maintain his innocence by accusing the survivors—now men in their 20s—of lying to the jury.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Coles had used his influence to warn the boys into silence at the time of the assaults. Caernarfon Crown Court heard that one of the counts was a specimen charge, indicating that the abuse of the older boy had happened on multiple occasions. The investigation established that the victims were visibly upset while giving evidence, having carried the burden of the abuse for nearly 20 years before the trial provided a platform for their testimonies to be heard and vindicated.
Judge Timothy Petts noted that despite the time passed since the offences, the crimes remained very serious and a custodial sentence was the primary consideration. For his actions in Tremadog, Coles was told that his conviction changed his status immediately. The judge noted that Coles’ attempt to invent a military background to gain unearned respect and cover his tracks was a further layer of dishonesty that the jury ultimately rejected after just two hours of deliberation.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Wales, the status of John Paul Coles is as follows:
- Current Status: Convicted (Sentencing December 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements activated upon conviction.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court following a North Wales Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Indecent assault on a child (6 counts).
- Origin: Isgraig, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Coles is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Gwynedd. Due to the nature of his conduct in Tremadog, which involved the grooming and indecent assault of children in a domestic setting followed by a decades-long cover-up, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his history of elaborate lying and manipulation necessitates close supervision by the probation service to ensure he does not gain access to further vulnerable individuals.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Coles must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of pretending to be a member of the armed forces in North Wales shows a calculated willingness to deceive the community. Any future attempt to misrepresent his background, approach a minor, or fail to disclose his location to the authorities will result in immediate arrest and a significant prison sentence.
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