Antony James, a former British Olympic swimmer who is a two-time Commonwealth Games medalist, is facing multiple sexual abuse charges including rape.
James, 33, appeared before a judge on Wednesday in Plymouth Magistrates Court where he was charged with a total of 21 offenses, including multiple counts of rape and sexual activity with girls under the age of 16.
The charges reportedly took place between 2012 and 2022.
James recently worked as a student officer with Devon and Cornwall Police in southwest England. The department has said he was suspended following his initial arrest and is no longer an employee of the force.
The charges include:
- Three counts of rape of a woman 16 years of age or over.
- Two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a female aged 13 to 15.
- Two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a female aged 13 to 15.
- Two counts of causing/inciting a female aged 13 to 15 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.
- Three counts of intentionally encouraging/assisting in the commission of rape.
- Two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch/look at an image of sexual activity.
- Engaging in controlling/coercive behavior.
- Engaging in sexual communication with a child.
- Three counts of possession of an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child.
- Two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
No pleas were entered and James was granted conditional bail.
A native of Plymouth, James represented Great Britain on home soil at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, placing 32nd in the men’s 100 butterfly (53.25).
James made his international debut at the 2009 European Short Course Championships in Istanbul, placing 7th in the 100 fly (50.66), and he followed up by making the individual final in the 100 fly at the long course Euros the following year, placing 8th in 52.67.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, James won silver in the 100 fly (52.50) and bronze on the English men’s 400 medley relay, and after qualifying for the Olympics, he also represented GB at the 2013 World University Games and competed through the 2016 British Olympic Trials.
He will next appear at Plymouth Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing on October 9.
This makes me sick
Didn’t he work at Plymouth Swimming Club during that period 2012-2022?
Isn’t this dude Ruta Meilutyte’s ex-bf?
No but just good mates. I was at PL for many years so knew AJ well. I feel absolutely sick that this was happening. There were no warning signs apart from been controlling of his girlfriends. When he retired he became a coach at PL but I had just left by then
What about max litchfield