Brian Eric Phelps (born 21 April 1944) is an English former diver and convicted sex offender.

Diving career

He won the gold medal in the 10 metre platform at the 1958 European Championships in

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

, Hungary, at the age of 14 and again in 1962 at age 18. He competed in the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

in Rome at the age of 16, where he took bronze in the 10 metre platform event. He was also won four gold medals at the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

, with double gold in the 1962 and

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

games on the 10 metre platform and the 3 metre springboard events. Phelps then went on to found the OLGA

trampoline A trampoline is a device consisting of a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched between a steel frame using many coiled spring (device), springs. Not all trampolines have springs, as the Springfree Trampoline uses glass-reinforced plastic rods. ...

club along with his wife, Monica Rutherford, an Olympic artistic gymnast. The club, based in the

South of England Southern England, or the South of England, also known as the South, is an area of England consisting of its southernmost part, with cultural, economic and political differences from the Midlands and the North. Officially, the area includes Gr ...

, has generated many international performers since its opening. These include current coach Nigel Rendell whose son, Luke Rendell, is a current international performer and Tom and Hannah Lewis, both of whom have won major titles, Hannah's being the 2003 European championships with Tom's the 2005 World Age Championship win. Brian Camp, one of Phelps's main prodigies performs regularly with the world's best. Another club member has been Claire Wright. Other OLGA performers include Danielle Pietruszka, Melissa Eryilmaz and Katy Ianson. Phelps is now retired and before his imprisonment was living in France. He is a former commentator on diving for the

Eurosport Eurosport is a group of pay television networks in Europe and parts of Asia. Owned by Warner Bros. Discovery through Warner Bros. Discovery Sports#Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe properties, its international sports unit, it operates two ...

television channel.

Indecent assault and indecency case

Phelps was remanded in custody at

Bournemouth Bournemouth () is a coastal resort town in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area of Dorset, England. At the 2011 census, the town had a population of 183,491, making it the largest town in Dorset. It is situated on the Southern ...

Magistrates' Court A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in several jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings. Courts * Magistrates' court (England and Wales) * Magistrate's Cour ...

in January 2008 after being charged with rape, attempted rape and 19 indecent assaults on two girls. The attacks plus 19 indecent assaults took place from 1976 to 1986 – while the girls were between six and 15. Before Bournemouth magistrates on 6 February 2008, he was further charged with six counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 14 and one count of gross indecency, these offences being alleged to have taken place between 1975 and 1980. He next appeared at the Bournemouth Crown Court on 25 March. At his trial Phelps admitted to 42 charges of indecent assault and indecency. He was sentenced to 9 years

imprisonment Imprisonment is the restraint of a person's liberty, for any cause whatsoever, whether by authority of the government, or by a person acting without such authority. In the latter case it is "false imprisonment". Imprisonment does not necessari ...

, and served 6 years in prison before being

released on licence Release on licence in England and Wales can refer to * Release from prison on temporary licence, followed by return to prison. * Release from prison on parole Parole (also known as provisional release or supervised release) is a form of ear ...

. He will be on the

sex offenders register A sex offender registry is a system in various countries designed to allow government authorities to keep track of the activities of sex offenders, including those who have completed their criminal sentences. In some jurisdictions, registration i ...

for life. In 2023, it was claimed that there were at least 12 further victims.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelps, Brian 1944 births Living people English male divers Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Olympic divers for Great Britain Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Divers at the 1960 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1964 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Divers at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Olympic medalists in diving Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games medallists in diving English people convicted of child sexual abuse English people convicted of indecent assault Medallists at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games European Aquatics Championships medalists in diving