Ex-Wolverhampton headteacher accused of sexually abusing pupils dies, aged 84
A former headmaster of Tettenhall College accused of sexually abusing pupils has died. Colin Cope, aged 84, was under fresh investigation by the police for the alleged crimes.
Prosecutors were deliberating whether to bring charges against Cope after covert video footage emerged showing him laughing, joking, driving his car, carrying a table and climbing steep stairs eight months after he was deemed too sick to stand trial.
Cope was previously charged with 11 offences on five boys at the Wolverhampton college. He denied any wrongdoing.
Former pupils Andrew Wood, originally from Wombourne, and Mark Shelton, of Shifnal, today spoke of their frustration that the criminal case will inevitably be discontinued following Cope's death.
They have waived their right to anonymity to speak out about the case.
Mr Wood, 56, said: "A opportunity has been missed for justice to be done. Questions have to be asked of the handling of the case over the last nine years by the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. We have been denied the opportunity for Colin Cope to answer the charges brought against him in a court of law."
Mr Shelton, 57, added: "This is a classic case of justice delayed being justice denied."
The two men were among five ex-Tettenhall College pupils who were paid a total of £129,000 in a civil claim by the boarding school in an out-of-court settlement in 2012.
When the trial collapsed, Cope was said to be taking 12 medications for numerous illnesses and had heart disease, prostate cancer and diabetes.
Mr Wood and Mr Shelton hoped the secret footage captured in 2010 would allow the case to be resurrected after it was halted by Judge Robin Onions at Shrewsbury Crown Court in 2009.
Cope is understood to have been sick in recent months with prayers being read at St Catherine's Roman Catholic Church in Wimborne, Dorset.
The Express & Star revealed West Midlands Police were reviewing the footage in November last year.
That review was concluded in January with the case files passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The CPS said the review would continue until a death certificate was produced.
Senior West Midlands Police are understood to be aware of Cope's death. Tettenhall College declined to comment.
