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British Athletes Convicted in Morocco Coach Sex Case

BBC Sport •
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Three British former athletes were convicted in Morocco as part of an investigation into the sexual assault of a minor by a sprinting coach, BBC Sport can reveal.

The prosecutions led to the imprisonment of Leon Baptiste, a UK Athletics coach and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist for England in the 200m. Baptiste was originally reported as missing in Morocco in some media articles published on 14 August, before a BBC Sport investigation revealed his conviction and jailing.

Two-time Commonwealth silver medallist hurdler Will Sharman, his brother and ex-bobsleigh athlete Richard Sharman, and fellow former bobsleigh competitor Lamin Deen, who were all on holiday with Baptiste, were convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor. Also convicted of the same offence were acquaintances Ashley O'Leary Jones and David Tuck.

The group said via their lawyers that they were never arrested and were unaware of their convictions until informed of them by BBC Sport. Court documents refer to the girl as being 16 years old and say she suffered "psychological trauma, sexual exploitation, physical assault and injury, and the violation of her human dignity". In June the five men were given suspended sentences of four months and fines of 500 dirhams (£40) each.