British Olympic Swimmer Antony James Found Guilty of Raping Two Teenage Girls

London 2012 Olympian Antony James has been convicted of raping two teenage girls who were under the age of 18 at the time.

James, 34, was also found guilty of sexually touching one of the girls when she was under the age of 16 and getting the other to send him sexually explicit pictures when she was under the age of 16.

He was officially 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.

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 has one week to seek retrial on those counts.

James committed the offenses between 2012 and 2022.

As a swimmer, James represented Great Britain on the international stage numerous times, including the 2012 Olympics in London, where he finished 32nd in the men’s 100 butterfly. At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, he was a semi-finalist in the 50 fly, placing 15th, and also took 19th in the 100 fly.

The Plymouth native was also a two-time medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, earning a pair of silvers, and also competed at multiple European Championships and the 2013 World University Games.

James previously worked as a student officer with Devon and Cornwall Police in southwest England. Following his initial arrest in 2022, he was immediately suspended and is no longer an employee of the force.

The Court heard that he was a friendly and charming man, but was also a “serial liar and manipulator,” according to The BBC.

One of the girls told the jury: “I didn’t feel like I could, or should, say no because I really loved him and trusted him… I felt like if I didn’t seem interested in the same things he was interested in, he wouldn’t think I was grown up enough.”

The girl reportedly even told police he was a “good man” at the time of his arrest and did not want him to go to prison.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Gemma Kneebone said James “manipulated and controlled his teenage victims to fulfill 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.

“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.”

The judge told James to expect a “substantial” prison term.

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SHRKB8
17 days ago

May his “substantial sentence” provide some help in the mental recovery of these 2 brave victims.

I feel confident retribution will be found deep inside the prison walls somewhere.

Flip Flops
17 days ago

Well well well…
Hope victims get relevant support and justice.

Lots going on in PL during that time…
Wonder Who was in charge?
Body Shaming, reports of emotional abuse
‘These Heavy Black Bones’ worth a read too.

Last edited 17 days ago by Flip Flops
Homer
Reply to  Flip Flops
16 days ago

Jon Rudd and Lindsay Dunn 😞

Flip Flops
Reply to  Homer
15 days ago

And they’re accountable for nothing?
Rudd is hiding in Ireland… And responsibile for oversight of this too….
https://swimswam.com/former-irish-national-center-coach-to-be-sentenced-for-recording-girls-changing/

Dunn is where?

Last edited 15 days ago by Flip Flops
Homer
Reply to  Flip Flops
14 days ago

Appalling. Swim England??

Billabong
17 days ago

Lock him up !

Eagleswim
18 days ago

“James previously worked as a student officer with Devon and Cornwall Police in southwest England.”

What a shocker…

swimgeek
Reply to  Eagleswim
18 days ago

This seems like a sarcastic comment, and I’m not sure what you’re trying to imply — that police officers tend to be rapists?

Swimmin’ in the south
Reply to  swimgeek
17 days ago

Simply a position of authority that has the potential to be abused.

Dee
Reply to  swimgeek
17 days ago

There have been a few high profile cases relating to officers in the UK recently – One used his ID to kidnap, rape and murder a young girl, another convicted of serial rape over a 20 year period as an officer, another 2 charged with serial rape offences (12+ each) in London alone in recent months. Obviously not all or even most, but it doesnt exactly surprise people in the UK to hear these stories right now.

Alaverga
18 days ago

On a related note, what ever happened with Yannick Angel?

Dee
Reply to  Alaverga
17 days ago

I’d say it’s crazy that the case isn’t resolved when he admitted to the accusations over 2 years ago, but France is the country in which a 40 year old teacher dates a 15 year old student and goes on to become ‘first lady’ by his side, and the country which protected Polanski, and the country which welcomed Mason Greenwood, so it really isn’t crazy.

NornIron Swim
Reply to  Dee
17 days ago

Greenwood also played in Spain so it’s not a France thing for him at least. There were many protests and objections about him joining Marseille so he wasn’t wholly welcomed. Also all the charges against him were dropped.
FYI, I’m not saying this was the correct/ethical thing to do but it does appear to be a different situation to the others you mentioned.

Last edited 17 days ago by NornIron Swim
Mark69
Reply to  Alaverga
17 days ago

Agnel, not Angel (for a number of reasons)

RealCrocker5040
18 days ago

Absolutely terrible

Any long term prison punishment that he gets is very well deserved

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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