Former Olympic diver, Brian Phelps, accused of historic sexual abuse

New allegations have emerged regarding former Olympic diver, Brian Phelps, regarding 60 young girls reportedly being abused.

A respected public figure having served as a commentator on the long-running BBC sports show, Grandstand, it has been alleged that behind closed doors Phelps engaged in misconduct.

As a result, legal action is growing against British Gymnastics, with alleged victims having come forward after the actions of a whistleblower named “Emma.”

Phelps is a former Olympic diver, who won bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He since became a coach and operated a trampolining gym in Poole, Dorset, with his wife. The gym is the site of the alleged reports of abuse regarding multiple young girls.

Whistleblowers

An aforementioned survivor, Emma, provided her account of being raped by Brian Phelps as an eight year-old in 1970s.

Another survivor spoke out to the BBC in 2023 describing the basement room of Phelps’ gym, named “Happyland”, and experiencing abuse within. Phelps’ room was decorated with Disney characters.

The brave testimony of Emma has encouraged more survivors to come forward, and it is reported that as many as 60 victims may allegedly be involved in this case.

Previous conviction

In 2008, Brian Phelps was convicted of historical sexual assaults on three children, aged between six and 15, and received a sentence of six years in prison. he has since served this sentence and is currently believed to be living in France.

John Phelps, his brother – a former Olympic canoeist, received twelve years at the same sentencing for similar crimes.

Ongoing investigation and call for justice

Police believe that there may be further victims who have yet to come forward. In an article in MailOnline, a former senior detective said:

“There will be victims of Phelps out there, still not seeing justice.

“It’s not too late. Judges have become more accepting of ambiguity in their summing up of these cases. There’s an acceptance that not every detail can be recalled from 40 years ago.”

What is historic abuse?

If you are a survivor of abuse in the past, whether that be sexual abuse or physical assault, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the impact it had upon your health.

A claim can be made for the physical impact to your health but also, and often more importantly, it can also be made for any damage it may have caused to your mental health. Compensation can be claimed for personal injury and also any financial losses you may have suffered as a result of your ill health.

Types of abuse:

Abuse by medical professionals
Abuse in children’s homes
Abuse in foster care
Abuse in religious organisations
Abuse in schools and education
Abuse in the Scouts
Abuse in sport
Civil abuse claims
Claims against individuals
Elderly Abuse
Online abuse

Should I make a claim?

Before deciding on whether making a claim is the best option for you, it is important to seek some initial legal advice about the merits. Here at Oakwood Solicitors, we offer a free assessment and would be happy to discuss this with you and no charge.

If you find a Solicitor who is of the view that your claim does have merits, then it is important to also consider the impact to your health that taking a claim forward may have.

Litigation can be a stressful process and may have an adverse impact on your health. We are not doctors, so we cannot give you medical advice, but are under a duty to advise you that pursuing a claim will be a reminder of the trauma of the abuse whilst the claim is ongoing and this may have an negative impact on your mental health.

Please also note that the only outcome to a successful claim is financial compensation. You may see the litigation as a mechanism for obtaining answers, but the majority of cases settle out of Court, which may result in many of your questions remaining unanswered.

You may be advised by your doctors that by revisiting the trauma of the abuse you suffered may set you back in your recovery. The decision to proceed must be your own, in conjunction with your medical advisors.

If you agree to proceed forward with a claim, then our team will support you as best as they can and try and make the process as stressful as possible.

How much is my claim worth?

Your solicitor will assess your claim and give you an idea at the outset of the compensation payable. Civil claims for abuse can include the following compensation:

General damages – An award of money for the abuse/assault(s) themselves and for the pain, suffering, and any psychological effects.

Special damages – An award for any specific financial losses we can prove, such as loss of earnings or the costs of any treatment or counselling.

Aggravated damages – An additional award of money in certain cases where the court considers that there has been additional distress caused by the manner in which the abuse occurred.

Will I need to go to court?

If the case did not settle, then ultimately the matter would proceed to Court where a Judge would make a determination. Most cases, however, do settle out of Court, so although this is an unlikely eventuality, we cannot rule it out as an impossibility.

If you do have any concerns about this during the process of your claim, then we would be happy to discuss this with you and address any concerns you may have.