Sex assault judo coach is jailed
An award-winning judo coach who photographed himself sexually abusing a young girl is jailed for five years.
More than 50 indecent images of the assault were found on the mobile phone of Leyton Dodge, of Penclawdd, Gower.
At Swansea Crown Court Dodge, 42, who set up Gower Judo Club and was named the city’s coach of 2005, admitted sexually touching a girl aged under 14.
He also admitted making indecent images but his barrister said she was not one of his judo pupils.
Mark Spackman, prosecuting, said the offences came to light after Dodge left his mobile telephone behind and another man looked in the images file.
The police were informed and Dodge was arrested the same day.
During police interviews he confessed that he had taken the photographs and that he was committing the acts they depicted, even though his own face did not appear.
His barrister Janet Gedrych said: “Dodge’s immediate and frank confessions meant the police did not have to approach the girl herself, who is still unaware that she has been a victim.”
Miss Gedrych explained that the girl had dozed off and that the sexual touching was so light she did not wake up.
“Mr Dodge is such a well-respected coach that the parents of one of his pupils has written to the court to say they are still willing for him to teach their child,” she added.
“There has never been any concern for the children he taught.”
Dodge, she said, was disgusted by his actions and wished to receive professional help to find out why he had done it and to ensure he did not reoffend.
Judge Christopher Morton said: “The harm done is immense even though, I am told, she does not know about it at this stage.”
Photographing the assault, he added, aggravated Dodge’s offending.
Dodge was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender for life and was also banned from working with children for life. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/7245386.stm
Sad news.
I actually got this from another forum where some of the posters knew and trained with/had their kids train with him.