UK
Ex-Olympic swimmer Antony James convicted of raping two teenage girls
A former Team GB Olympic swimmer has been convicted of raping two teenage girls.
Antony James, 34, was found guilty by a jury at Plymouth Crown Court of three counts of rape, three charges of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
He had previously pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent photographs of a child.
James, from Plymouth, competed at the 2012 London Olympics in the men’s 100m butterfly, finishing 31st. He won a silver and bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
James after his heat in the men’s 100m butterfly at the London Olympics. Pic: PA
The jury could not reach a verdict on one count of sexual activity with a child, and five counts of rape. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has one week to seek a retrial on those counts.
James committed the offences between 2012 and 2022.
The Olympian, a trainee police officer at Devon and Cornwall Police at the time of his arrest, was also found not guilty on three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence.
Gemma Kneebone, a senior crown prosecutor for CPS South West, said James “manipulated and controlled his teenage victims to fulfil his own sexual desires”.
“He claimed that these young victims were over 16 at the time, but this was a lie which collapsed under scrutiny,” she said.
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“James was well aware of how young these victims were, and he set out to take advantage of this in a truly appalling manner, continuing to offend against them after they turned 16.
“This prosecution would not have been possible without the evidence so bravely provided by the young women involved, and I would like to thank them for coming forward to support the case.
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“The CPS is determined to deliver justice for victims of sexual abuse – and for every victim to have confidence that we will not hesitate to bring the strongest possible charges against those who carry out these heinous crimes.”