MILVERTON paedophile Martyn Coles was handed five life sentences for sex crimes against underage girls, back in July 2009.

Coles, then aged 55, of Creedwell Orchard, was told he must serve at least 15 years before even being considered for release on licence.

He refused to appear for sentencing before Taunton Crown Court for 17 charges, including rape and indecent assault, against six girls between 2000 and 2008.

A jury had found him guilty of the charges at the end of a two-week trial, which heard how he groomed young girls with alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.

A packed public gallery listened in silence as Judge Graham Hume Jones handed out five life sentences and terms of between six months and four years, all to run concurrently.

Coles was not in court – his lawyer, Alan Large, said arthritis made it painful for him to travel and he was also aware he faced a lengthy sentence.

The judge said: “The defendant set out to indulge his sexual fantasies and satisfy his own inadequacies by exploiting and corrupting a number of young girls aged about 11 to 15.”

He said Coles provided an “open house”, luring girls into his home and grooming them through drink, cigarettes and drugs, as well as driving them around.

“He gradually introduced the subject of sex, making sexualised comments, persuading them sexual activity was normal and part of their natural development,” said the judge.

He added: “I’m quite satisfied that the defendant poses a significant risk and must be classified as dangerous."