CYRIL CARTER JAILED FOR MOLESTATION IN ELTHAM, LONDON

In a case that has shocked the local community and brought to light disturbing allegations, Cyril Carter, a former swimming coach based in Eltham, South East London, has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of a teenage girl he was mentoring during the 1980s. The conviction follows a lengthy investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, which was initiated after the victim came forward to report the abuse in 2013.

According to court records, Carter, now aged 68, targeted a young girl aged between 14 and 15 years old during the mid-1980s. The abuse took place both at the swimming pool where he was coaching and at his residence. The victim, who was part of Carter’s training sessions, was singled out from a class he was teaching in the Eltham area of South East London in 1985. Beyond her regular swimming lessons, Carter began coaching her in athletics and other sports outside of school hours, during which he committed indecent acts.

The abuse extended beyond the pool environment. The victim was required to stay at Carter’s home before early morning training sessions, providing him with further opportunities to assault her. Additional offences reportedly occurred in Carter’s car, adding to the severity of the charges. The details of these incidents have caused significant distress and have been a source of ongoing concern for the community.

Notably, Cyril Carter’s coaching career included training some of Britain’s most prominent Olympic athletes. Among his proteges was Sharron Davies, a renowned swimmer who won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton at the age of just 15. Davies later competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where she finished second behind East German swimmer Petra Schneider, who was later exposed for doping. Carter also coached judo medalists Neil Adams and Brian Jacks, and authored books on discus techniques with British strongman Pete Tancred, as well as judo techniques with Neil Adams.

Following the victim’s report, police arrested Carter in March 2015. He faced multiple charges, including six counts of indecent assault and five counts of gross indecency involving a child under 13. Carter denied the allegations, but in November of that year, he was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault. The jury acquitted him of two other assault charges, and no verdict was reached on the gross indecency counts. Currently residing without a fixed address, Carter was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court to six years and eight months in prison. Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which prohibits him from training or coaching children in the future, aiming to prevent any further harm.

This case underscores the importance of vigilance and safeguarding in sports and youth activities, highlighting the devastating impact of abuse and the necessity for thorough investigations and justice for victims.