Former British Olympic swimmer raped teenage girls and forced them to have sex with ‘strange’ men, court heard

A former British Olympic swimmer raped and sexually abused teenage girls before forcing them to have sex with other men, a court has heard.

Antony James, 34, went on trial today accused of 27 offences against three alleged victims, including rape, sexual activity with a woman under 16 and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Two of his alleged victims were teenagers at the time, while the other was an adult, Plymouth Crown Court was told.

James, who represented the British team in the 100m butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics, is said to have manipulated and controlled his victims in a bid to satisfy his “perverse sexual needs”.

Lee Bremridge, prosecuting, told the jury that James was 30 years old when he manipulated a young teenage girl, later forcing her to have sex with “strange men because he enjoyed it and it turned him on.”

Antony James left Plymouth Crown Court last year, the former Olympic swimmer accused of raping teenage girls and forcing them into sexual activity

According to the prosecutor, one of the teenage victims claimed that James had sex with her “before her 16th birthday” during a secret, but very physical and sexual relationship.

He is said to have known the ages of his alleged young victims and demanded they have sex with strangers or take part in threesomes, the court heard.

James is also accused of hitting the adult plaintiff with a belt and slapping her during sex, before telling her, “I want it to hurt.”

The prosecutor said James choked the woman during sex until she was unconscious and called her “a little slut” who deserved pain.

Two of James’ alleged victims were teenagers at the time, while the other was an adult, Plymouth Crown Court heard (file photo)

Jurors were warned that the trial, which was expected to last about a month, would include “unpleasant and highly sexual evidence.”

Opening the case for the Crown Prosecution Service, Mr Bremridge said James could be charming and had a degree in psychology.

But in 2020, the prosecutor alleged, his “ability to lie, control and manipulate was at its highest.”

James denies all crimes allegedly committed between 2012 and 2022.

The process continues.