A former South Wales swim instructor has been sentenced to 25 years behind bars for “heinous” acts of sexual abuse.
Robert Rixon, 75, was found guilty of 28 charges of sexual assault, including one count of rape, and subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison on Nov. 11 in Cardiff Crown Court.
According to South Wales Police, Rixon used his position to sexually abuse five young girls, aged between 11 and 13, at two separate schools.
A swimming teacher carried out a long-standing and harrowing “campaign of sexual abuse” on five young girls – leaving them with deep-rooted psychological trauma. Over a 16-year period, Robert John Rixon sexually abused his victims who were as young as 11https://t.co/gWYBlHpOqY pic.twitter.com/tB6yu1Twyr
— WalesOnline 🏴 (@WalesOnline) November 15, 2022
The first came at the Porthcawl Comprehensive School in Porthcawl, Wales between 2000 and 2005, where Rixon was a swimming instructor and committed offenses against three girls between 11 and 13 years old.
He was later hired at the Heronsbirdge School in Bridgend, Wales, where he ran a lifesaving club between 2013 and 2015. Two other girls aged between 11 and 13 were identified as being sexually assaulted by Rixon around 2015.
An investigation into Rixon was launched in 2018 after one woman came forward and reported that she had been abused by Rixon as a girl, South Wales Police reported.
Police were then able to identify four other victims, resulting in an in-depth inquiry that resulted in a significant number of sexual abuse allegations.
“I want to pay particular tribute to the victims who demonstrated tremendous bravery throughout this police investigation,” said DC Tony Daniel, an officer in the case.
“To see Rixon behind bars will hopefully enable these five women to move on with their lives in the knowledge that he has finally been brought to justice for his heinous and indefensible crimes.
“Help and support is available for all victims of sexual violence and we encourage any victims; no matter how long ago the offence happened, to come forward.”
