Olympic swimmer Antony James, convicted of violating 2 teenagers

A former Olympic swimmer was sentenced to prison for violating two girls.

On Wednesday, February 26, Antony James, 35, from Plymouth, England, who competed at the 2012 Olympics in London, learned that he would spend the next 21 years behind bars after being found guilty of the two rapes, as well as other sexual crimes, BBC Reports.

Prosecutors said that James, who competed in the 100 m butterflies in 2012 and prepared to become a police officer just before his 2022 arrest, took care of the two girls before raping them, guardian Reports.

Speaking of James’s first victim, Judge Robert Linford said in court: “You knew what you do was seriously wrong, but your wish for that young man has overcome your self -control,” reports the BBC. “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.”

In October, James was convicted of three charges of rape, three of sexual activities with a child and two charges to cause a child to engage in sexual activities, reports the BBC.

He pleaded guilty for six charges to take indecent photos of a child in April 2024, according to Tutor.

The crimes took place for ten years, from 2012 to 2022.

James raped one of the girls in her kitchen, and the other in a car, prosecutors said, reports the BBC.

“I feel like my formative teenage … they were stripped of me,” said one of the girls in the impact declaration on the victim he read in court, according to the BBC.

“I always wonder what kind of girl I would have been if I didn’t meet you.”

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The judge has also handed over an order to prevent 25 -year sexual injury and said that James will be placed in the register of sex criminals, reports the BBC.

During the sentence, the senior prosecutor of the Gemma Kneebone crown said: “James was well aware of how young these victims were,” according to the BBC.

“He proposed to take advantage of this in a truly awful manner, continuing to offend against them after they turned 16.”

In addition to the competition at the Olympic Games, James won a silver medal for his country at Commonwealth games in 2010.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted please contact the national sex line of sexual assault at 1-800-656-Hope (4673) or go to Rainn.org.

If you or someone you know was a victim of sexual abuse, the text “strength” to the crisis text line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.