Ex-Met officer denies deceiving activist into relationship in Spy-Cop dispute

Andrew Coles says sexual relationship claims are 'payback'; Met Police commissioner says force accepts it happened.

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

A former undercover Metropolitan Police officer, Andrew Coles, is disputing claims that he deceived an animal rights activist into a sexual relationship while infiltrating the Animal Liberation Front in the 1990s. The activist, identified only as Jessica, says he groomed her under a false identity. Coles denies the relationship, but the force's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has written that the Metropolitan Police accepts the relationship occurred and is disappointed Coles did not tell the truth to the Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI).

The dispute sits at the centre of the long-running Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI), which is examining the activities of the Met's Special Demonstration Squad (SDS).

Coles, 66, is the brother of broadcaster Reverend Richard Coles and is active in local Conservative politics. He infiltrated the Animal Liberation Front under the name Andy Davey, an identity taken from a dead child. He has said the qualities needed in a good undercover officer included resilience, bravery and ruthlessness. Asked if that included a skill for deception, he replied: 'I suppose so. Though I didn't behave very differently to my own personality.'

Jessica, now 54, told the BBC she was 19 and living in a shared house in east London when she met Davey in 1991. She remembers him as an awkward older man who drove a van and who she struggled to get rid of late at night. She says he became her first proper boyfriend. 'He groomed me,' she said. 'He would sleep in my single bed several times a week, and I didn't know who he really was.' She has provided handwritten letters from 1993 which allude to the relationship. A forensic graphologist told the BBC her handwriting appeared to vary but it was possible she wrote both letters at around the same time.

Coles has admitted sharing Jessica's bed on one occasion but says there was never any sexual contact. He told the BBC the claims against him are fabricated. 'It's payback, pure and simple,' he said. 'Her story is not true, absolutely not true.' He has theorised that a second letter submitted as evidence was written much later and added to the evidence bundle, describing the handwriting as an elegant cursive compared to her earlier childlike scrawl.

The Met's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has written that the force accepts Coles had a sexual relationship with Jessica and is disappointed he did not tell the truth to the inquiry. The commissioner's statement contrasts with Coles's insistence that witnesses against him are seeking revenge. 'It's hardly surprising they'd want to get their own back on me,' he added.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case goes to the heart of public trust in covert policing and the rule of law.
It highlights a long-running scandal in which women say they were exploited by officers using false identities.
The outcome of the UCPI will determine whether systemic accountability can be achieved for the Metropolitan Police.

Background

The Undercover Policing Inquiry (UCPI) was established in 2015 to investigate the conduct of the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad, which infiltrated political and protest groups for decades. Officers are known to have adopted the names of dead children and, in some cases, formed intimate relationships with activists. The inquiry aims to assess whether such tactics were lawful and proportionate.

Key Perspectives

Andrew Coles: Maintains his innocence, arguing the allegations are fabricated revenge for his work targeting the Animal Liberation Front. He admits to deception and law-breaking during his deployment but denies the sexual relationship, calling the evidence against him 'absolute nonsense'.

Jessica (the accuser): Describes being groomed and deceived into a relationship she would not have consented to had she known his true identity. She feels the betrayal undermines her bodily autonomy and constitutes an abuse of power by the state.

The Metropolitan Police and the UCPI: The force has accepted the relationship occurred and criticised Coles's honesty. The inquiry is investigating whether the culture of the SDS enabled exploitation of women, and whether officers were properly supervised.

What to Watch

The final report of the Undercover Policing Inquiry and whether it recommends criminal prosecutions or disciplinary action.
Any further cases of women coming forward with similar allegations against former SDS officers.
How the Met responds to the findings, including potential changes to undercover policing guidelines and oversight.

Sources

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedAn ex-Met officer denies deceiving an activist into a relationship.BBC London: “Jessica – not her real name – is an animal rights activist who says he deceived her into sleeping with him. ... He vehemently denies the claims against him, insisting he is the victim of a deceit.”
Partly supportedColes says the sexual-relationship claims are “payback”.BBC London: “Andrew Coles says a campaign against him is “payback” for his undercover work”
SupportedThe Met commissioner says the force accepts the relationship happened.BBC London: ““The MPS has accepted that Andrew Coles had a sexual relationship with Jessica,” wrote the force's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley”
Partly supportedColes denies the relationship.BBC London: “Coles has admitted sharing Jessica's bed on one occasion but says there was never any sexual contact.”
SupportedJessica says Coles groomed her under a false identity.BBC London: “Taking the name Andy Davey from a dead child, he began making connections with the Animal Liberation Front”
SupportedJessica says Coles groomed her.BBC London: ““He groomed me,” she says.”
SupportedJessica was 19 when she met Davey in 1991.BBC London: “In 1991, Jessica met Davey for the first time. She was a naïve 19-year-old, she recalls”
SupportedA forensic graphologist said Jessica's handwriting appeared to vary and she might have written both letters around the same time.BBC London: “Forensic graphologist Kate Barr told the BBC Jessica's handwriting “appeared to vary” and it was possible she had written both letters at around the same time.”
Partly supportedColes told the BBC the claims against him were fabricated.BBC London: “He vehemently denies the claims against him, insisting he is the victim of a deceit. ... “Her story is not true, absolutely not true,” he insists.”
SupportedThe commissioner says the Met accepts Coles had a sexual relationship with Jessica and is disappointed he did not tell the truth to the inquiry.BBC London: ““The MPS has accepted that Andrew Coles had a sexual relationship with Jessica,” wrote the force's commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, “and is disappointed he did not tell the truth to the inquiry.””
SupportedColes theorises that the second letter was written much later and added to the evidence bundle.BBC London: ““I think it was written much later and added to the evidence bundle,” he says.”
SupportedColes says witnesses against him want to get their own back on him.BBC London: “Coles says their stories are “completely made-up”. “It's hardly surprising they'd want to get their own back on me,” he adds.”