June 1999 Sex Abuse Coach Jailed A DISGRACED Midland gymnastics coach who sexually abused little girls he taught was today beginning a three-year jail sentence. A judge at Wolverhampton Crown Court told Richard Bristow (54), who is married and has two daughters that he used the affection of his victims to prevent the offences coming to light. Bristow, who was sacked as senior instructor and coach for Dudley Council, was convicted of four charges of indecent assault and cleared of another four. He had denied all the offences, which were committed over a ten-year period. A jury of six women and six men yesterday took 75 minutes to reach its verdicts after a four-day trial. The offences were committed against girls aged between six and 12 years old Bristow was employed by Dudley Council as an instructor from 1984 and became head coach at the Earls School of Gymnastics in 1990. He also coached at Kingswinford and Wall Heath Gymnastics clubs, teaching thousands of youngsters. Bristow was charged with assaulting six girls aged six up to 12 at Earls club and Dudley Leisure Centre between January 1986 and June 1997. He was convicted of four charges and cleared of another four. He had denied all the offences. A former county gymnast described how Bristow encouraged her to practice an exercise naked during a one-to-one training session when she was eight. Afterwards, he wrapped her in a hospital blanket before indecently assaulting her, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told. The jury heard how girls regularly undressed in front of Bristow and swam naked at an indoor pool. The offences only came to light when one victim – now 19 – was being counselled following the break-up of her parent’s marriage. Her counsellor told social services and the police started an investigation. DI Mulligan said: “A lot of girls were interviewed about Bristow. “At the time, we did not go ahead with some cases because the victims did not want to go to court. “But once they see that he has been convicted, they may decide that they want us to re-investigate their case.”