Cole Riley, a 21-year-old father from Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court for a child sex offence committed when he was 18 years old. The incident occurred while the victim, a girl under the age of consent, was lying in bed. Riley, who had been drinking alcohol and taking cocaine, entered the room and approached her from behind.
According to the prosecution, led by Raglan Ashton, the victim heard someone walking back and forth before Riley began running his hands across her body. He whispered repeatedly in her ear, 'Don’t tell anyone, please don’t tell anyone.' Riley then penetrated her sexually, causing her to freeze in shock, before leaving the room. The assault had a profound impact on the victim, who described in her impact statement feeling paranoid, deeply suspicious of everyone, and developing severe trust issues. She became erratic, smashing things and shouting, and experienced intense fear and anxiety around men standing behind her, ultimately forcing her to move away from the area.
Following the disclosure of the assault to others, Riley filled his pockets with stones and jumped into the canal in Long Eaton in an apparent suicide attempt. He had to be dragged out of the water and was subsequently arrested. Riley, of Welbeck Road, Long Eaton, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault by penetration and had no previous convictions.
During the hearing on 12 November 2025, Judge Julie Warburton acknowledged the severe trauma inflicted on the victim, reading her impact statement which detailed the ongoing effects. The judge noted that Riley was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time and described the offence as likely a one-off but with a risk of repetition. Despite handing down a two-year jail term, it was suspended for two years, with Riley sobbing in the dock upon hearing he would not go to prison immediately.
Laura Pitman, mitigating, emphasised Riley's deep shame and remorse, attributing his actions to excessive alcohol and class A drug consumption. She highlighted that he had stopped drinking and taking drugs since the incident, expressed sorrow to the victim and her family present in court, and noted his guilty plea spared the victim from reliving the event in testimony. The judge ordered Riley to attend 20 rehabilitation sessions, complete 200 hours of unpaid work, be placed on the sex offender register for 10 years, and subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.