Swimming coach abused teenager

A swimming coach who had a sexual relationship with a teenager more than 30 years his junior, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Swindon Crown Court heard Stephen Hartley, 48, of Hawkeridge Park, Westbury, first met the girl when she joined his swimming club aged 11.

At 13 she began sending him sexual text messages, and the pair began a three-year relationship, the court was told.

He admitted four counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency.

Secret meetings

The court was told the married father-of-three had the perfect opportunity to distance himself from the girl when she was banned from the club because of the text messages, one of which was seen by his daughter.

We got more and more blasé about it and we got more blinded - then I started to reciprocate Stephen Hartley

But instead the pair began meeting in secret, and the girl initiated sexual activities, prosecutor Jane Warren said.

"We got more and more blasé about it and we got more blinded. Then I started to reciprocate," Hartley told police.

When she reached 16 he and the girl had full consensual sex and their affair continued up until his arrest in September last year.

Lost reputation

Their relationship was revealed after the girl told a church member of the affair, during a counselling session.

Defending, Graham Smith said Hartley said he knew it was wrong but had fallen in love with the girl.

He had lost his job, his position, his reputation, the trust of his family, his home and probably his marriage, Mr Smith said.

Jailing him, Judge Guy Boney said: "It's a major tragedy to see a man like you standing in the dock in the Crown Court surrounded by the wreckage of your life."

Hartley was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and banned from working with children and young people.