A British Paralympic gold medalist, Gareth Duke, has been sentenced for attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor during an online sting operation. The 39-year-old swimmer, who achieved fame by winning gold at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, was apprehended by members of the Child Online Safety Team after he believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl.
Between May 25 and June 2, Duke arranged to meet the supposed minor and made inappropriate requests, including asking her to strip on camera. During the court proceedings at Newport Crown Court, prosecutor Ben Jones detailed how Duke had arranged for the girl to travel approximately 140 miles from Portsmouth to South Wales for a “kiss and a cuddle.” He was reported to have told the decoy that “age was just a number,” indicating that he understood he was communicating with someone underage.
In court, Duke pleaded guilty to the charges against him. His defense team argued for a lenient sentence, citing his health challenges. Duke is registered blind, requires kidney dialysis three times a week, and has significant hearing loss. His lawyer, Alice Sykes, emphasized that he has no prior convictions and has cooperated fully with the legal process, suggesting that he could be rehabilitated in the community.
Despite his medical issues and lack of previous offenses, Judge Matthew Porter-Bryant made it clear that Duke’s actions warranted serious consequences. He stated that Duke demonstrated awareness of the gravity of his actions and described them as “predatory offending.” The judge imposed a six-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with a requirement for Duke to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity. He must also register as a sex offender and will be subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, placing restrictions on his online activities to prevent reoffending.
Duke is a three-time Paralympic medalist, having won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, silver in 2008 in Beijing, and bronze in the 4x50m freestyle relay in the same year. He was also crowned the 2006 World Champion in the 100m breaststroke. His athletic career was significantly impacted by his health; born with Alport’s syndrome, a rare kidney disorder, he has undergone multiple kidney transplants and ultimately retired from competitive swimming in 2011 after both transplants failed.
This case highlights ongoing concerns about online safety, particularly regarding the exploitation of minors. The actions of the Child Online Safety Team have been instrumental in bringing such cases to light, serving as a reminder of the risks present in digital communication.
