The former swimmer of the GB team, who raped two teenagers, “Shakespearean Fall from Grace”

Antony James has been closed for 21 years

A former GB Olympic swimmer, who raped two teenagers, had a “Shakespeare fall”, a court heard how he was closed for more than 20 years.

Antony James, 35, who competed in the 100 -meter butterflies in London 2012 and won a silver medal at the Commonwealth games in 2010, took care of both victims while they were under 16 years old.

Plymouth Crown Court heard on Wednesday that James was a student officer with Devon and Cornwall at the time of his arrest.

James caused the two teenagers to send sexually explicit images and videos and raped both victims, which cannot be named for legal reasons, in crimes that extend over a decade between 2012 and 2022.

The court heard that he raped the first victim in the kitchen of his own house and the second victim in a car.

James, from Fort Terrace, Plymouth, was involved in his first victim between 2012 and 2016, heard the court. Prosecutor Lee Brembridge told the court that he said he “made her feel loved and flattered.”

James would touch and hit his neck and followed messages as part of his care, the court heard.

At the end of 2020, he won the second victim – who was 15 years old at that time – to continue to send him and move pictures with herself in her underwear, which she received as a gift for ChristmasThe court heard.

He also “encouraged her to take a bath and feel good”, which she called “self-love,” said Mr. Brembridge.

James arranged to meet the girl next to the home address in a car in January and March 2021 to have sex.

Reading the statement of impact on his victim in court, the second victim said that James was “twisted and strange” and that he “manipulated and manipulated me in what you wanted to be.”

She added: “I feel as if my formative teenager … were stripped of me. I always wonder what kind of girl I would have been if I didn’t meet you. I hope you struggle to live with what you have done. “

The rapes happened when both girls turned 16, said Devon and Cornwall police.

James was found guilty of a jury consisting of eight charges last October, including three rape charges, three charges of sexual activity with a child and two charges to cause a child to engage in sexual activities, the criminal prosecution service (CPS) said. He also previously acknowledged to six charges of taking indecent photos of a child in April last year.

Michael Brown, defense, said James is not “a normal defendant” because of his previous social position.

He said to the court: “It is indeed a Shakespearean fall of grace, given the contributions that he made to his city and country. He is someone who, by their achievements in life, has excelled. “

Judge Robert Linford was sentenced to James to 21 years in prison, with two -thirds of the sentence to be executed before being released on the license. An order to prevent sexual damages for a period of 25 years has been made, and the defendant will be placed in the register of life offenders.

Addressing James about his first victim, the judge said: “You knew that what you do was seriously wrong, but your wish for that young man overcame the self-control.

“She believed that you two are in a relationship. It seems that, indeed, what had been made was a relationship, but then you betrayed it in your own house. “

The judge said that the six accusations of indecent images “simply add the story of the abuse”, adding: “Your quite unclear approach to this abuse catalog was that everything was consensual.”

Gemma Kneebone, a senior prosecutor of the CPS crown, said: “Antony James manipulated and controlled the victims of adolescence to fulfill their own sexual desires.

“He claimed that these young victims were over 16, but this was a lie that collapsed. James was well aware of how young these victims were and proposed to take advantage of this in a truly awful manner, continuing to offend against them after they were 16 years old.

“This criminal prosecution would not have been possible without the evidence provided so bravely by the young people involved and I would like to thank them for supporting the case.”

The head of the Chief of Constanta Jim Peat, of the Devon and Cornwall police, said: “The conviction of Antony James for these horrible offenses follows a complete and thorough investigation of the force.

“He was immediately suspended when the information appeared and resigned as early as possible.

“We hope that by seeing him criminally and convicted, regardless of his position, he sends a clear message that we will not tolerate such abuse and harmful attitudes within our service.

“Maintaining the highest standards of integrity remains a priority and any crime or unacceptable behavior will be subjected to a thorough investigation.”