Olympic swimmer found guilty of rape offences

Antony James has been on trial since mid September

A former Olympic swimmer and student police officer has been found guilty by a jury of rape and sexual activity.

The jury in the trial of 34-year-old Antony James, of Crownhill at Plymouth Crown Court were sent out by Judge Robert Linford on Friday afternoon to consider their verdicts and by Tuesday afternoon he told them he would consider majority verdicts. Over the last four weeks two of the jurors had to stand down, leaving just ten jurors - seven men and three women - to determine James' fate.

James faced 20 counts regarding incidents involving three females which were reported to have taken place between 2012 and 2022.

Shortly after midday the jury returned to offer their verdicts. With regards to his first victim, he was found guilty of three counts of sexual activity with a child by unanimous verdict and one count of rape of the same girl, when she was aged over 16, also by a majority verdict.

They were unable to reach a verdict, unanimous or majority, on a fourth count of sexual activity with a child.

He was found not guilty of controlling or coercive behaviour on another woman between March 2018 and March 2021.

The jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict of two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity in relation to his third victim, who was under the age of 16 at the time.

He was also found not guilty of two counts of causing a child - his third victim - to watch a sexual act.

However, the 10-strong jury found him guilty by unanimous verdict of two counts of rape upon his third victim when she was 16.

They were unable to agree either a unanimous or majority verdict on five further counts of rape, two of which were alleged to have taken place at an Exeter Airbnb.

Prosecutor Lee Bremridge requested seven days to allow for discussions by the Crown Prosecution Service regarding the outstanding counts the jury could not reach a verdict on.

Judge Robert Linford agreed to grant James conditional bail until a sentencing hearing which will take place at a later date following the completion of a pre-sentence report.

Judge Linford discharged the jury and thanked them for their diligence, noting the long delays which took place during their time as jurors. He said he would excuse them from jury service for the next 10 years.

Devon and Cornwall Police have stressed that the former student officer has remained suspended since his initial arrest and is no longer an employee of the force.

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