Three former British athletes have been convicted in Morocco in connection with an investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a minor by sprint coach Leon Baptiste, BBC Sport has revealed.
Baptiste, a UK Athletics coach and England’s 2010 Commonwealth Games 200m champion, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of sexual assault of a minor. He was initially reported missing in Morocco in media reports published on 14 August, before a BBC Sport investigation revealed that he had been convicted and jailed.
Newly obtained court rulings provide further details about the convictions of five other men who were on holiday with Baptiste.
Two-time Commonwealth silver medallist and hurdler Will Sharman, his brother and former bobsleigh athlete Richard Sharman, former bobsleigh competitor Lamin Deen, and acquaintances Ashley O’Leary Jones and David Tuck were convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor.
The five men said through their lawyers that they were never arrested and did not know about their convictions until BBC Sport informed them.
“William, Richard, Lamin, David and Ashley are shocked and distressed by the circumstances in which they have unexpectedly found themselves. “They reject any suggestion that they knowingly engaged in unlawful or improper conduct. They left Morocco believing they had complied with all requirements placed upon them.”At the time, they understood that they had paid an administrative fine equivalent to approximately £40 and that the matter had concluded.”
BBC Sport understands that police raided a villa in Tamensourt, on the outskirts of Marrakech, after a girl told them she had been brought to the property and had not received money promised in exchange for sex with Baptiste. She also alleged that a housekeeper assaulted her after accusing her of stealing a watch.
Baptiste, 41, was convicted of sexual assault of a minor and initially sentenced to 10 months in prison. His sentence was later reduced to eight months on appeal.
Court documents describe the girl as 16 years old and say she suffered “psychological trauma, sexual exploitation, physical assault and injury, and the violation of her human dignity”.
Court records show that the five men were each given four-month suspended prison sentences and fined 500 dirhams (£40) in June after being convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor.
They were acquitted of a separate charge of inciting a minor to engage in prostitution.
Morocco’s presidency of the public ministry, which oversees prosecutions in the country, provided BBC Sport with the court judgment relating to the group.
“The defendants were in the company of [Leon Baptiste] and were seated at the same table as the minor, alongside her. “They thereby assisted him in deceiving the minor and persuading her to engage in sexual relations [with Baptiste]. This constitutes participation in the enticement of a minor. “The court found them guilty on this count and decided to convict them for these acts.”
The group had left Morocco before the judgment was issued. Their convictions and sentences were upheld at an appeal hearing in July.
In a response provided by their lawyers, the Sharman brothers, Deen, O’Leary Jones and Tuck said they had visited the Montecristo nightclub on the recommendation of their driver and had no reason to believe it was anything other than a reputable venue.
They said they did not know the girl’s age and that some members of the group did not recall seeing her at the nightclub. They also said the villa was very large and that contact between the men and Baptiste inside the property was limited.
The men said they were never present in court, that the proceedings were not conducted in English and that the process was not explained to them.
“What has unfolded over recent months has been a distressing and incoherent saga. “They did not properly understand the proceedings and were completely shocked on being told that they were the subject of a criminal conviction, when that is not how they understood it.”
Companies House records and a biography on one of O’Leary Jones’ social media profiles show that he is a director of a company operating five children’s care homes in Greater Manchester.
Tuck’s social media biography identifies him as a military veteran. A CV posted online lists coaching experience with women’s and children’s football clubs, including Stoke City, Apollon Limassol in Cyprus and Orlando Pride in the United States.
The UK Foreign Office, Home Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment when asked by BBC Sport about the convictions and potential safeguarding concerns.
Other people were also convicted in relation to the case, according to court records. They include the villa’s housekeeper and two security guards, who each received two-month suspended prison sentences and fines of 5,000 dirhams (£396).
The manager of the Montecristo nightclub, where the group met the girl, was sentenced to two months in prison.
A waiter at the nightclub was also prosecuted, as was the owner of the agency that rented out the villa.
The girl, who is Moroccan, was awarded 60,000 dirhams (£4,784) in civil compensation. The payment is to be made jointly by all those convicted, along with court costs.
