A British Paralympic gold medalist, Gareth Duke, has been sentenced after attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor during an online sting operation. The 39-year-old swimmer, who won gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympics, was caught by the Child Online Safety Team, a group dedicated to identifying online predators.
Duke was convicted at Newport Crown Court for attempting to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl. Between May 25 and June 2, he arranged for her to travel approximately 140 miles from Portsmouth to South Wales, under the pretense of sharing intimate moments, including asking her to strip on camera. Prosecutor Ben Jones presented evidence that Duke was aware he was communicating with a minor, stating that he remarked, “age was just a number.”
In court, Duke admitted to the charges against him. Despite his confession, his legal team sought a lenient sentence, citing his complex health issues, including being registered blind and requiring kidney dialysis three times a week. His lawyer, Alice Sykes, argued that he had no previous convictions and had cooperated with the investigation, suggesting he could be effectively managed in the community.
The presiding judge, Matthew Porter-Bryant, expressed concern over Duke’s actions, emphasizing that the behavior demonstrated was predatory and constituted serious criminal conduct. He remarked, “You said that age was just a number. This was predatory offending.” However, the judge acknowledged Duke’s remorse and his lack of prior offenses, ultimately suspending the six-month jail sentence for 18 months.
In addition to the suspended sentence, Duke is required to complete a 30-day rehabilitation program and register as a sex offender. He will also be subject to a seven-year sexual harm prevention order, which places restrictions on his online activities to help prevent future offenses.
Duke’s achievements in swimming include winning three medals at the Paralympics: gold in the 100m breaststroke in 2004, silver in 2008 in Beijing, and bronze in the 4x50m free relay that same year. He was also crowned the 2006 World Champion in the 100m breaststroke.
Born with Alport’s syndrome, a rare inherited kidney disorder, Duke’s health challenges have been significant. He underwent kidney transplants from his father in 2006 and his uncle in 2010, but both transplants ultimately failed, leading to his retirement from competitive swimming in 2011.
Duke’s case highlights the ongoing issue of online safety and the efforts of vigilante groups to hold predators accountable for their actions.
