Five former British athletes convicted in Morocco over minor case
Moroccan court hands down four-month suspended sentences and fines to five British former athletes, while Leon Baptiste serves prison time.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Five former British athletes convicted by a Moroccan court in a minor enticement investigation.
- Leon Baptiste, a 2010 Commonwealth gold medallist, is currently imprisoned in Marrakech.
- The group claims through lawyers that they were unaware of convictions until contacted by media.
- Court rulings state the men sat with a 16-year-old girl and helped entice her for Baptiste.
BBC Sport has revealed that three former British athletes, including two-time Commonwealth silver medallist hurdler Will Sharman, his brother and former bobsleigh competitor Richard Sharman, and fellow ex-bobsleigh athlete Lamin Deen, were convicted in Morocco as part of a high-profile investigation into the sexual assault of a minor.
The prosecutions also snared two acquaintances, Ashley O'Leary Jones and David Tuck, who were convicted of the same offense. These legal actions stem from an extensive probe that led to the imprisonment of Leon Baptiste, a UK Athletics coach and 2010 Commonwealth Games 200m gold champion, who is currently serving time in a Marrakech prison.
Initial media reports in August had noted Baptiste as missing in Morocco before investigative reporting uncovered his conviction. Court documents specify that the victim was a 16-year-old girl who suffered severe psychological trauma, sexual exploitation, physical assault, and a grave violation of her human dignity during the incident.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Court records from June show that the five men received four-month suspended prison sentences and fines of 500 dirhams, equivalent to roughly 40 pounds each, after being found guilty of participating in the enticement of a minor. They were acquitted of a separate charge regarding inciting prostitution, and their convictions were upheld following a July appeal hearing after they had already left the country.
"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."
Spokesperson for the five British men
Legal representatives for the five men explained that the group visited the Montecristo nightclub following a driver's recommendation and had no reason to suspect illicit activities. They maintained they were completely unaware of the girl's age, did not understand the foreign court proceedings due to language barriers, and believed the matter was fully settled upon paying an administrative fine of about 40 pounds before leaving Morocco.
This case highlights the severe legal complexities foreign nationals face when inadvertently entangled in overseas jurisdictions. Language barriers and unfamiliar local legal frameworks often lead to dangerous misunderstandings, such as mistaking an ongoing criminal prosecution for a finalized administrative penalty.
Meanwhile, other individuals linked to the case have also faced legal consequences, including the villa's housekeeper and two security guards who received two-month suspended sentences alongside fines of 5,000 dirhams, as well as the nightclub manager and a waiter who were given jail time. British government departments have declined to comment on the safeguarding issues raised by the case.
Source: BBC Sport
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