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BROUGHT TO JUSTICE: Brian Phelps's offences against children go back some 30 years

A SHAMED Olympic diving star was yesterday jailed for nine years after admitting a shocking catalogue of child sex abuse offences spanning a decade.

Former gym owner Brian Phelps was finally brought to justice more than 30 years after he molested his first trusting victim when she was just six.

Silver-haired Phelps, 64, pleaded guilty to 25 indecent assaults and 17 gross indecency offences from the mid-1970s, involving three young girls.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how the father-of-two had abused two victims in his gym, having sex with one in the basement.

He told her: "It's our little secret", giving her chocolate after molesting her in his car and in woods.

She told police: "It was a way of life; it went on for so long it became the norm."

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said the abuse had stopped just after the girl's 16th birthday. But she had become "an emotional wreck" and hated Phelps "with a vengeance".

Phelps, who won a bronze medal in the 1960 Olympics at 16 and went on to become a Commonwealth gold medallist in 1962 and 1966, formed the OLGA gymnastics and trampoline club in Poole which was for many years in Ashley Road, Parkstone.

Now operating from Rossmore Leisure Centre, the club is known for producing international competitors and champions.

The court was told how Phelps, who returned from his retirement home in France to be quizzed by Dorset detectives, had abused his second victim from the age of six, telling her: "You know I love you, don't you?"

His third victim was also molested from the age of six while Phelps was her trampoline coach.

Phelps told police he was "a high calibre sportsman" and "an awesome character" who had struggled with the pressure of his early success.

Estimating that he had coached 280,000 children, Phelps described himself as "a bit of a sex addict", and told detectives: "The girls never said no' or stop.'"

Defence barrister Iain Ross said: "He regards this period of his life as very shameful. For 20 years or so after these events he worked blamelessly. He really has touched the lives of many children but now realises he has to pay for what he has done."

Sentencing Phelps, Judge Samuel Wiggs described the offences as "horrific".

He told Phelps: "What you did to those three young girls was almost as terrible and horrible sexually as you can imagine, short of rape."

Phelps was banned from ever working with children again and must register as a sex offender for life.

After the case, Dorset's senior crown prosecutor Julia Woodward said Phelps' guilty pleas had saved his victims having to relive their "traumatic experiences" in court.

The officer in the case, DC Andy Shah, told the Daily Echo: "No sentence will make up for the lifetime of suffering his victims have had to endure."

Phelps' former employer the Borough of Poole confirmed that unsubstantiated allegations had been made against him in 1999. When new information was received in September 2003, a joint child protection inquiry was launched with Dorset police.

A spokesman said: "British Gymnastics was formally advised of the allegations and the organisation instigated its own child protection procedures. Phelps was suspended by British Gymnastics in January 2004 and immediately barred from Rossmore Leisure Centre.

"Prior to a formal disciplinary hearing by British Gymnastics, Phelps resigned from the organisation in March 2004."

6:56pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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