Olympian jailed for 21 years for raping teenagers

A former Olympic swimmer was given a 21-year prison sentence for raping two underage girls, including the rape of two of them.

Antony James, 35, of Fort Terrace, Plymouth was also found guilty in October of sexually touching one of the girls and getting the other to send him sexually explicit pictures when both girls were under the age of 16.

The crimes were reported at Plymouth Crown Court between 2012 and 2022.

The girls’ car and kitchen were both raped by James, who was present in the court.

One of the young women read out her victim impact statement in court and said, “I feel like my formative teenage years have been taken from me.

If I hadn’t met you, I always wonder what kind of girl I would have been.

Two-thirds of James’ sentence, according to Judge Robert Linford, had to be served in prison before being released on a license.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), James was found guilty of eight counts of rape, including three counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity in October.

He also admitted to making six child-related indecent photos in April.

The judge said the six counts of indecent images” simply add to the story of abuse”, adding:” Your rather nonchalant approach to this catalogue of abuse was that it was all consensual. “

The judge responded to James’ first victim by saying, “You knew what you were doing was seriously wrong, but your desire for that young person overrode your self-control.”

“She believed that you two were in a relationship.

Gemma Kneebone, a senior prosecutor, said: “James was aware of how young these victims were.

He attempted to exploit this in an “absolutely abhorrent manner,” and he continued to offend them after they reached the age of 16.

According to Ms. Kneebone, the prosecution would not have been possible without the “so bravely provided by the young women involved” evidence.