A former Olympic swimmer has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being found guilty of raping and sexually abusing two teenage girls over a decade.
Antony James, 35, groomed his victims when they were under 16 years old, persuading them to send sexually explicit images and videos before attacking them. Plymouth Crown Court heard that James committed the offences between 2012 and 2022, with the attacks taking place in a kitchen and a car.
Grooming and Sexual Abuse Over a Decade
James, who competed for Great Britain in the 100-metre butterfly at the London 2012 Olympics and won a Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2010, was a student officer with Devon and Cornwall Police at the time of his arrest in January 2022.
The court heard that he began grooming his first victim between 2012 and 2016, making her feel “loved and flattered.” Prosecutor Lee Brembridge explained that James initially touched and stroked her neck, before moving on to sexually assaulting her.
He later raped the girl in her own home, forcing her head down towards his genitals in the kitchen. James attempted to argue that he did not have sex with the victim because “it didn’t go all the way in,” the court was told.
Second Victim Targeted in 2020
By late 2019, James showed a clear sexual interest in children, the prosecution stated. He later groomed a second victim in 2020, convincing her to send explicit images and videos of herself in Christmas underwear.
James encouraged the girl to take baths and engage in “self-love”, before meeting her near her home in a car in January and March 2021 to have sex. The victim described the experience as “painful,” but James continued regardless.
Reading her victim impact statement in court, she said:
“Antony James tampered and manipulated me into what he wanted me to be. I feel as if my formative teenage years have been stripped from me. I always wonder what kind of girl I would have been if I hadn’t met you. I hope you struggle to live with what you have done.”
Sentencing and Court Ruling
On Wednesday, Judge Robert Linford sentenced James to 21 years in prison, ruling that he must serve at least two-thirds of the sentence before being released on licence.
A 25-year sexual harm prevention order was imposed, and James will remain on the sex offenders register for life.
“You knew what you were doing was seriously wrong, but your desire for that young person overtook your self-control,” Judge Linford told James.
“She believed that you two were in a relationship, but then you betrayed that by raping her in her own home.”
James was convicted in October 2024 on eight charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Additionally, he had previously admitted to six counts of making indecent photographs of a child in April 2024.
James only spoke in court to confirm his identity at sentencing.
Prosecutor Praises Victims for Speaking Out
Senior Crown Prosecutor Gemma Kneebone from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) condemned James for his manipulative behaviour, stating:
“Antony James manipulated and controlled his teenage victims to fulfil his own sexual desires.
“He claimed that these young victims were over 16 at the time, but this was a lie which collapsed under scrutiny. James was well aware of how young these victims were, and he set out to take advantage of this in a truly appalling manner, continuing to offend against them after they turned 16.
“This prosecution would not have been possible without the evidence so bravely provided by the young women involved, and I would like to thank them for coming forward to support the case.”
