A swimming instructor appeared before Chester Crown Court yesterday (24th June 2021) in relation to sexual abuse offences upon a young girl with whom he was entrusted with.

In a clear breach of trust and duty, Craig Yates admitted to a number of offences occurring between 2017 – 2019; two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged 13 – 17 and one count of possession of an indecent photograph/pseudo photograph of a child.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to the offences and was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Yates was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order along with a 20-year restraining order.

Investigating Officer, DC Tracy Burndred commented “I hope this conviction will enable the victim and her family to move on from this traumatic event and that this will encourage other victims of any type of sexual offence to come forward – no matter how long ago it took place.

Sadly, this type of media report is all too common, we often read of sporting instructors, coaches, supervisors who are entrusted by children and parents alike to nurture, educate and develop yet in some circumstances this can be seen as an opportunity to abuse.

Thankfully many avenues of support are now readily accessible for survivors of sexual abuse which allow individuals the chance to openly talk about their horrendous childhood experiences, whether that be with the police who will prosecute, solicitors who will pursue civil claims, and medical experts who can provide counselling and bespoke treatment.

As one of the country’s leading abuse solicitors, Farleys has an unprecedented record in assisting survivors of sexual abuse in the sporting world. Our accredited team of abuse solicitors have successfully pursued damages claims for many survivors against specialist instructors, coaches, and organisations in the fields of swimming, tennis, gymnastics and football to name but a few.

Our experienced team of solicitors are on hand 24/7 to discreetly discuss and advice you on any potential claims against individuals, organisations and to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. You can contact us by phone 0330 134 6430, by email, or through the online chat below.