Trafford School of Gymnastics coach, Michael Haynes, guilty of raping students
Michael Haynes, a formerly respected gymnastics coach at the Trafford School of Gymnastics has been found guilty of nine counts of rape and 11 counts of sexual assault against two girls, following a trial at Manchester Crown Court. He has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment.
Haynes used his position of trust as gymnastics coach to abuse two gymnastics students. These offences took place between the 1980s and early 2000s and had been hidden for decades until more recently, when two brave individuals came forward (separately) to disclose the abuse they had endured at his hands.
Greater Manchester Police believe there may be further victims of Haynes and have appealed for any further witnesses to come forward now and disclose their experiences.
There has been a problem of abuse festering at the heart of gymnastics for decades. Senior coaches have been able to act with total impunity, forcing young children to experience extreme and militaristic regimes whilst bullying and humiliating dissenting voices into silence. This has enabled coaches like Haynes to commit terrible crimes of sexual abuse against the children they were responsible for, leaving lives destroyed in their wake. I am glad that some of these coaches are finally being held accountable and that criminal justice is beginning to catch up with the reality of the sport.
Survivors of abuse often feel that a civil claim can give them back some control over their lives, which they may feel that they lost during a criminal investigation. I have extensive experience and have represented more than 35 survivors of abuse in gymnastics and I am happy to speak to anyone who may need support in this regard.
