Prosecutors in the case of former Ajax Swim Club head coach Matt Bell have requested a prison sentence of 2 years, minus one day, after he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual exploitation and luring a 16-year old girl 5 years ago when the victim was 16.
“This case involves a significant breach of trust,” prosecutor Taran Boodoosingh said. “Mr. Bell preyed upon (the victim’s) vulnerability and exploited her dependence on him.”
Bell’s defense attorney Berney O’Brien asked for a sentence of 4-6 months, citing his lack of any prior criminal record and the fact that he pleaded guilty, avoiding a long drawn-out trial.
“This man has suffered a life-long impairment he will never recover from,” O’Brien said. “He’s disgraced worldwide.”
“It is defeating and it is humiliating,” said the woman. “Justice can never be served for me. Nothing can change what Matt did to me. “I did not and could not understand consent in this situation,” she said. “How could I, when Matt was my coach?”
Bell was the high performance coach and CEO of the now-defunct Ajax Swim Club (a separate but similarly-named club, with no connection to Bell, has been formed) arrested in late 2015 on charges that he sexually assaulted a minor member of the team. He was a member of the Swimming Canada coaching staff for the 2015 World Junior Championships.
