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| Police rape inquiry investigated | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the way the case of a man raped after being wrongly branded a paedophile has been handled. | |
| The South Wales Police inquiry into the rape itself has been wound down. | |
| Meanwhile victim Geoff Cole, from near Neath, has been told if he wants to take the person who began the rumours to court he must do so himself. | |
| Detectives believe that the lies spread about Mr Cole led to the attack near his Resolven home in October 2005. | |
| Mr Cole has been told criminal action cannot be taken against whoever began the rumours, as it is a civil matter. | Mr Cole has been told criminal action cannot be taken against whoever began the rumours, as it is a civil matter. |
| Police will make a fresh appeal for information on the attack on BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme. | Police will make a fresh appeal for information on the attack on BBC Wales' Week In Week Out programme. |
| Meanwhile the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has confirmed it will investigate the south Wales force's handling of the case. | |
| South Wales Police referred the matter to the IPCC after a complaint from Mr Cole. | |
| Earlier this year, Mr Cole waived his anonymity as a rape victim and contributed to a BBC Crimewatch reconstruction of the attack, which happened as he walked his dogs in heavy rain at 2245 GMT on 18 October, 2005. | |
| He was dragged to the ground and attacked moments after seeing a man loitering alongside the road and apparently talking into a mobile phone. | |
| For us to get justice, we have to take this person to court ourselves, is that justice? I don't think so Jill Cole | For us to get justice, we have to take this person to court ourselves, is that justice? I don't think so Jill Cole |
| For months there have been no new leads in the case and police have scaled down their investigation. | For months there have been no new leads in the case and police have scaled down their investigation. |
| But officers believe they know who began the rumours in the weeks before the rape. | But officers believe they know who began the rumours in the weeks before the rape. |
| Det Insp Jeff Handley said that at a party Mr Cole had been referred to as a paedophile. | Det Insp Jeff Handley said that at a party Mr Cole had been referred to as a paedophile. |
| "Mr Cole is not a paedophile, he is not a sex offender - Mr Cole has done absolutely nothing wrong and we've worked on the assumption that this attack on him has come about as a result of that rumour, gossip, and speculation," explained DI Handley. | "Mr Cole is not a paedophile, he is not a sex offender - Mr Cole has done absolutely nothing wrong and we've worked on the assumption that this attack on him has come about as a result of that rumour, gossip, and speculation," explained DI Handley. |
| He said advice had been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service. | He said advice had been sought from the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| He added: "Unfortunately, it's not a criminal offence, and should Mr Cole want to pursue the matter further, he would have to pursue it through the civil courts, because it's not a criminal offence - that's the law." | He added: "Unfortunately, it's not a criminal offence, and should Mr Cole want to pursue the matter further, he would have to pursue it through the civil courts, because it's not a criminal offence - that's the law." |
| Mr Cole was walking his dogs in Resolven when he fell victim | Mr Cole was walking his dogs in Resolven when he fell victim |
| The news has come as a blow to Mr Cole and his wife Jill. | |
| Mrs Cole said "one person's vengeful, hateful mouth" had "started this and destroyed us, there's no other way to explain it". | Mrs Cole said "one person's vengeful, hateful mouth" had "started this and destroyed us, there's no other way to explain it". |
| "For us to get justice, we have to take this person to court ourselves, is that justice? I don't think so." | "For us to get justice, we have to take this person to court ourselves, is that justice? I don't think so." |
| The couple have moved out of their house which overlooked the lane where the attack happened, and are now living in rented accommodation. | The couple have moved out of their house which overlooked the lane where the attack happened, and are now living in rented accommodation. |
| Mr Cole said: "I feel absolutely sick. I shouldn't have to live like this at all, I'm a completely innocent man. " | Mr Cole said: "I feel absolutely sick. I shouldn't have to live like this at all, I'm a completely innocent man. " |
| Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact South Wales Police on 01792 456999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. | Anyone with information on the attack is asked to contact South Wales Police on 01792 456999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. |
| Week In Week Out is broadcast on BBC One Wales on Tuesday at 2235 BST, and on BBC 2W on Wednesday at 2200 BST. | Week In Week Out is broadcast on BBC One Wales on Tuesday at 2235 BST, and on BBC 2W on Wednesday at 2200 BST. |