British former athletes convicted in Morocco for enticement of minor in sexual assault case

Three British former athletes were convicted in Morocco as part of an investigation into the sexual assault of a minor by a sprinting coach, BBC Sport can reveal.

The prosecutions led to the imprisonment of Leon Baptiste, a UK Athletics coach and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist for England in the 200m.

Baptiste was originally reported as missing in Morocco in some media articles published on 14 August, before a BBC Sport investigation revealed his conviction and jailing.

Now, court rulings seen by BBC Sport shed more light on other convictions relating to the same case.

Two-time Commonwealth silver medallist hurdler Will Sharman, his brother and ex-bobsleigh athlete Richard Sharman, and fellow former bobsleigh competitor Lamin Deen, who were all on holiday with Baptiste, were convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor.

Also convicted of the same offence were acquaintances Ashley O'Leary Jones and David Tuck.

The group said via their lawyers that they were never arrested and were unaware of their convictions until informed of them by BBC Sport.

A spokesperson for all five men told BBC Sport: "William, Richard, Lamin, David and Ashley are shocked and distressed by the circumstances in which they have unexpectedly found themselves.

"They reject any suggestion that they knowingly engaged in unlawful or improper conduct. They left Morocco believing they had complied with all requirements placed upon them.

"At the time, they understood that they had paid an administrative fine equivalent to approximately £40 and that the matter had concluded."

BBC Sport understands that police raided a villa in Tamensourt on the outskirts of Marrakech after a girl contacted them claiming she had been brought to the property, had not been paid money she was promised in exchange for sex with Baptiste, and that she had been assaulted by a housekeeper after she was accused of stealing a watch.

Baptiste, 41, was subsequently convicted of sexual assault of a minor and given a 10-month prison sentence, which was subsequently reduced to eight months on appeal.

Court documents refer to the girl as being 16 years old and say she suffered "psychological trauma, sexual exploitation, physical assault and injury, and the violation of her human dignity".

Court records show that in June the five men were given suspended sentences of four months and fines of 500 dirhams (£40) each after being convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor.

All five men were acquitted of a separate charge of inciting a minor to engage in prostitution.

The Morocco presidency of the public ministry, which oversees prosecutions in the country, provided BBC Sport with the court judgement regarding the group, which reads: "The defendants were in the company of [Leon Baptiste] and were seated at the same table as the minor, alongside her.

"They thereby assisted him in deceiving the minor and persuading her to engage in sexual relations [with Baptiste]. This constitutes participation in the enticement of a minor.

"The court found them guilty on this count and decided to convict them for these acts."

The group had already left Morocco by the time the decision was handed down. Their convictions and sentences were upheld after an appeal hearing in July.

In a response provided by their lawyers to BBC Sport, the Sharman brothers, Deen, O’Leary Jones and Tuck say they visited the Montecristo nightclub based on a recommendation provided by their driver, and had no reason to believe it was anything other than a respectable establishment.

They say they were unaware of the girl's age and that some members of the group do not even recall seeing her in the nightclub. The villa they were staying in was vast and the interaction between the men and Mr Baptiste while inside the villa was limited.

They also say that they were not present in court on any occasion, that the court process was not in English and that it was not explained to them.

The spokesperson continued: "What has unfolded over recent months has been a distressing and incoherent saga.

"They did not properly understand the proceedings and were completely shocked on being told that they were the subject of a criminal conviction, when that is not how they understood it."

Companies House records and a biography on one of O'Leary Jones' social media profiles show he is a director of a company operating five children's care homes in Greater Manchester.

Tuck's social media biography indicates he is a military veteran, while a CV posted online lists experience coaching women's and children's football clubs including at Stoke City, Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, and Orlando Pride in the USA.

When asked by BBC Sport to comment on the convictions and the potential safeguarding issues raised, the UK Foreign Office, Home Office, and Department for Culture, Media, and Sport declined to provide a response.

Records also show that other people were convicted in relation to the case.

They include the housekeeper of the villa and two of its security guards, who were each given a two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 dirhams (£396).

The manager of the Montecristo nightclub where the group met the girl was sentenced to two months in jail.

A waiter at the Montecristo was also prosecuted, as was the owner of the agency which rents out the villa.

The girl - a Moroccan national - was awarded civil compensation of 60,000 dirhams (£4,784), to be paid jointly by all of those convicted, plus court costs.