21-year sentence for Olympic swimmer who raped teenagers

A FORMER Olympic swimmer sentenced to 21 years for paedophile offences including rape was deemed to have had a “Shakespearean fall from grace” by his barrister.

- Tom Bevan

Antony James, 35, who represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, was convicted of multiple child sex offences and rape.

The defendant, who was also a student police officer, was described as a friendly and often charming man, but the prosecution said he was also “a serial liar and manipulator”.

At his sentencing yesterday, his barrister Joe Stone KC said he had a “Shakespearean fall from grace” going from international sports star who won Commonwealth gold in 2010, to convicted paedophile.

Judge Robert Linford said James was “highly talented and regarded” but had “groomed and repeatedly sexually abused two people”.