Local football star tells of Rape Nightmare

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Carlton Cole tells of media ordeal after allegations were made against him

After the events in La Manga has once again put the spotlight on the behaviour of premiership footballers a local soccer star has given his side of events this week.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, Carlton Cole has told of the media frenzy resulting from a rape allegation that was made against him last year. The young football star from Brentford who attended Chiswick Community School is currently starring in the Premier League with Charlton Athletic.

In the event no charges were ever brought against Cole or the three other men who were accused of gang-raping a 17 year old girl in a London hotel. After a four month police enquiry the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to press charges. Cole feels that although he behaved irresponsibly that evening, he did nothing to deserve the infamy that came in the months following the alleged attack.

Cole told the Standard: "I was definitely victimised and if I wasn't a footballer none of this would have happened. The girl wouldn't have had a go at me but at least it made me realise I have a responsibility."

"We were guilty of going out and having a few drinks, but girls can say anything they want and you become guilty straight away. It's not fair. She came out with a stupid story that didn't add up and as soon as it's in the press people label you as a rapist. I was being called a rapist during games and as a young lad it was very difficult to take on the chin."

Cole totally denied the allegations made against him and says that the alleged victim's use of publicist Max Clifford indicates that the girl's version of events was false.

Ironically as a young trainee at Chelsea he was befriended by senior pro Frank Sinclair, one of the Leicester City players who was detained in Spain last week. The tables have turned now with Cole giving his old mentor advice on how to deal with the situation.

Cole now says that he has to be very careful when speaking to strangers and can't trust any girl unless he's known her since he was young. He aims to follow the example of professionals like Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry who only get in the papers for what they have done on the pitch.

March 13, 2004