A former British swim coach who spent time behind bars two decades ago has received a second prison sentence after a new victim stepped forward in a sexual abuse case.
Michael Drew, 78, originally received a six-year sentence in 2001 after five boys came forward and alleged he sexually abused them between 1969 and 1991 while coaching them across south London, east London and south Essex.
Drew was serving as the president of the British Swimming Coaches Association when the accusations came to light, resulting in him being removed from the position in 2000.
In 2022, a sixth male victim approached police alleging Drew abused him while he was between the ages of 13 and 15 in the 1970s.
Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told Croydon Crown Court that Drew convinced the boy to perform sex acts on him, telling him it would increase his Vitamin E levels and improve his swimming performances.
When he stepped forward in 2022, the victim told police he trusted Drew implicitly and assumed the abuse was for his benefit.
He described Drew as “evil” in a victim statement and told the court how the abuse has impacted his adult life.
“The biggest regret of this sad criminal offence was that I could not speak about what happened to me,” he wrote, according to Echo News.
“Throughout the 1970s I struggled with the ability to make friends due to the barriers. In my education I found it difficult to concentrate at school due to what was happening to me. I have a sense of guilt for not speaking out sooner. The rational side of me wanted to get it out but the emotional side of me wanted to keep it in.”
Drew pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault before he was sentenced to two years and three months in custody on Friday.
His lawyer, James Manning, attempted to keep Drew out of prison and lobbied for a suspended sentence.
“Mr. Drew tells me he feels ashamed and referred to his behaviour as madness,” said Manning.
“He was convicted in 2001 and was given a significant sentence. He spent a long time in custody and the system has worked in that he has not reoffended. He has come out and lived a different life.”
“He no longer poses a threat to children, or for that matter, anybody.”
Judge Daniel Flahive was unwavering in his belief that a prison sentence was necessary.
“He was in his teens in the 1970s and he looked up to you as a swimming coach,” Flahive said. “You were renowned in your field. The boys thought the world of you and looked to you to help their future careers as swimmers.
“You took advantage of that.
“He was a child and he was vulnerable. All of this drives me to the opinion that there has to be a prison sentence here.”
