Pensioner dies in prison serving sentence for child rape

A convicted child rapist serving a 15-year sentence has died at Parc Prison in Bridgend. Malcolm Coles, 76, passed away on December 17 whilst serving time for a horrific campaign of sexual abuse that spanned six years.

Coles was jailed in 2017 following a trial at which the court heard he had sexually abused a young girl in Sittingbourne, Kent. The abuse took place between April 1981 and April 1987, when his victim was aged just six to 11 years old. The pensioner, who later relocated to Wales, was found guilty of one count of rape, four counts of indecent assault, and one count of indecency with a child.

The victim showed remarkable courage in coming forward more than 25 years after the offences took place to report what had happened to her. Despite the passage of time, Coles continued to protest his innocence, pleading not guilty and forcing his victim to endure a trial.

Following Coles’ sentencing in 2017, Detective Constable Steve Dingwall of Kent Police praised the victim’s bravery: “Coles believed he had got away with his behaviour and until this day continued to protest his innocence by pleading not guilty and making the victim endure a trial. I would like to commend the bravery and courage of Coles’ victim and I would encourage any people who have experienced any abuse, be it current or non-recent, to come forward to the police and report it.”

A spokesperson for HMP Parc confirmed: “Mr Malcolm Coles (DOB 02/04/1949) passed away on December 17, 2025. As with all deaths in custody, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The cause of death will be for the coroner to determine.”

It’s understood that Coles had been unwell for some time and had been receiving palliative care at the prison. As is standard procedure with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent investigation. No cause of death has been released at this stage.