Local club felt let down by British Cycling safeguarding

Banned youth coach able to exploit loopholes after national federation sanction, it is alleged

- Tom Thewlis

A cycling club in England say they felt let down by an inadequate safeguarding response from British Cycling after a youth coach was investigated by police for sending inappropriate messages via social media.

Multiple sources told Cycling Weekly that it was believed that the coach who cannot be named for legal reasons-posed a safeguarding risk to both junior and adult females involved with the club.

But despite the reported concerns, the coach was only blocked from working with juniors by the national governing body. It is believed that BC sanctioned the individual by removing his affiliate coaching licence, although he was not prevented from later working with adults in the sport.

He was also not formally prosecuted by the police.

Nevertheless, the police and allocated local authority designated officer [LADO] regularly expressed concerns that the coach often minimised his behaviour and failed to acknowledge that his conduct was deeply inappropriate.

The coach then went on to set up a high-profile men's team and was also involved with a women's team shortly after being investigated.