Brian Eric Phelps (born 21 April 1944) is a convicted sex offender and an English former diver.

Diving career

He won the gold medal in the 10 metre platform at the 1958 European Championships in

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, Hungary, at the age of 14 and again in 1962 at age 18. He competed in the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad () and commonly known as Rome 1960 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 25 August to 11 September 1960 in Rome, Italy. Rome had previously been awar ...

in Rome at the age of 16, where he took bronze in the 10 metre platform event. He was also won four gold medals at the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

, with double gold in the

1962 The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War. Events January * January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...

and

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

games on the 10 metre platform and the 3 metre springboard events. Phelps then went on to found the OLGA

trampoline A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched between a steel frame often using many coiled spring (device), springs. People bounce on trampolines for recreational and competitive purposes. The fabric that use ...

club along with his wife, Monica Rutherford, an Olympic artistic gymnast. The club, based in the

South of England Southern England, also known as the South of England or the South, is a sub-national part of England. Officially, it is made up of the southern, south-western and part of the eastern parts of England, consisting of the statistical regions of ...

, has generated many international performers since its opening. These include current coach Nigel Rendell whose son, Luke Rendell, is a current international performer and Tom and Hannah Lewis, both of whom have won major titles, Hannah's being the 2003 European championships with Tom's the 2005 World Age Championship win. Brian Camp, one of Phelps's main prodigies performs regularly with the world's best. Another club member has been Claire Wright. Other OLGA performers include Danielle Pietruszka, Melissa Eryilmaz and Katy Ianson. Phelps is now retired and before his imprisonment was living in France. He is a former commentator on diving for the

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television channel.

Indecent assault and indecency case

Phelps was remanded in custody at

Bournemouth Bournemouth ( ) is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority area, in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. At the 2021 census, the built-up area had a population of 196,455, making it the largest ...

Magistrates' Court A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in several Jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings. Courts * Magistrates' court (England and Wales) ...

in January 2008 after being charged with rape, attempted rape and 19 indecent assaults on two girls. The attacks plus 19 indecent assaults took place from 1976 to 1986 – while the girls were between six and 15. Before Bournemouth magistrates on 6 February 2008, he was further charged with six counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 14 and one count of gross indecency, these offences being alleged to have taken place between 1975 and 1980. He next appeared at the

Bournemouth Crown Court The Bournemouth Combined Court Centre, also known as Bournemouth Courts of Justice, is a Crown Court venue, which deals with criminal cases, as well as a County Court venue, which deals with civil cases, in Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, ...

on 25 March. At his trial Phelps admitted to 42 charges of indecent assault and indecency. He was sentenced to 9 years

imprisonment Imprisonment or incarceration is the restraint of a person's liberty for any cause whatsoever, whether by authority of the government, or by a person acting without such authority. In the latter case it is considered " false imprisonment". Impri ...

, and served 6 years in prison before being

released on licence Release on licence in England and Wales can refer to * Release from prison on temporary licence, followed by return to prison. * Release from prison on parole Parole, also known as provisional release, supervised release, or being on paper, ...

. He will be on the sex offenders register for life. In 2023, it was claimed that there were at least 12 further victims.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Brian 1944 births Living people English male divers Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Olympic divers for Great Britain Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Divers at the 1960 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1964 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Divers at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Olympic medalists in diving Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games gold medallists in diving Commonwealth Games silver medallists in diving English people convicted of child sexual abuse English people convicted of indecent assault Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games European Aquatics Championships medalists in diving Sportspeople convicted of crimes