Undercover Officer Denies Deceiving Activist into Sexual Relationship

A former undercover Metropolitan Police officer, Andrew Coles, has vehemently denied claims that he deceived an animal rights activist into a sexual relationship during his time infiltrating protest groups in the 1990s. The controversy is central to the ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI), which has been examining the controversial practices of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS).

Coles, who now lives a quiet life in Cambridgeshire and is the brother of the Reverend Richard Coles, served in the SDS between 1990 and 1995. He admits to taking the alias Andy Davey and infiltrating groups like the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), admitting he sometimes broke the law to maintain his cover, including taking drugs and participating in property damage.

However, he disputes the account of "Jessica" (a pseudonym), an activist who met him in 1991 when she was 19. She alleges that Coles, then 32 and married with children, groomed her and entered into a sexual relationship with her under false pretenses. "He groomed me," Jessica stated, adding, "It's difficult to describe it as rape, but he knew that having sex with me would have been against my consent."

Coles acknowledges sharing Jessica's bed on one occasion but denies any sexual contact, calling her story "absolutely not true" and suggesting it is "payback, pure and simple." He asserts he is the victim of a deceit, though he concedes that "it is very hard to defeat" the weight of evidence against him.

Supporting Jessica's account are two letters she wrote in 1993 to a friend while in France. In one, she mentions continuing to see "Andy," and in the second, she refers to him suggesting they "see other people because if I decided to stay here for another year... he wouldn't be getting enough sex." Coles disputes the authenticity of the second letter, suggesting it was written later and that the handwriting differs from Jessica's.

Forensic graphologist Kate Barr told the BBC that Jessica's handwriting "appeared to vary" and that it was possible she had written both letters around the same time.

The UCPI, launched in 2015, is investigating numerous allegations against undercover officers, including deceiving women into sexual relationships, using the identities of deceased children, and infiltrating families of murder victims like Stephen Lawrence. Coles himself gave evidence in 2024, facing questions about references to the "good looks" of female activists in his reports.

Coles was unexpectedly exposed in 2014 by his brother, Richard Coles, in an autobiography. He was confirmed as operative HN2 at the UCPI in 2018. After leaving the Met in 2012, Coles entered politics, serving on Peterborough City Council and as deputy police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire.

However, his past actions led to significant backlash. Jessica and supporters campaigned against him, leading to him losing his council seat in 2024. "He should not be in a position of power," Jessica stated. "He was in a position of power when I had a relationship with him, and he abused that power in the worst possible way."

Coles also authored a 1995 manual, the Tradecraft Manual, which included a section on "Sexual Liaisons." He wrote that if officers had "no other option but to become involved with a weary [activist], you should try to have fleeting, disastrous relationships." Coles maintains he was discussing breaking off relationships, not encouraging sex, and expresses surprise at the heading.

In 2017, the Metropolitan Police investigated Coles's alleged relationship with Jessica. While no criminal charges were filed, he was informed he would have faced a gross misconduct hearing had he not already left the force.

Jessica, who now fosters guinea pigs and campaigns for victims of undercover policing, described the experience as "a massive violation. It was like being raped by the state." She added, "I feel like it's an attack on my honesty. I have to keep fighting. You know we all do, because it shouldn't happen to anyone else."

Coles maintains that Jessica and their past are "my deep and distant past. It has no relevance today."

The UCPI is ongoing, with its chair, Sir John Mitting, expected to rule on the truth of the competing accounts in the future.