GARY TENDLER FROM BRENTWOOD JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE TABLE TENNIS PRODIGY IN LONDON

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community and the wider sporting world, Gary Tendler, a 36-year-old man from Brentwood, Essex, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for his heinous crimes involving a 15-year-old girl he met through the sport of table tennis. The incident unfolded over a period of four months, during which Tendler, a married father of two and a prominent figure in British table tennis, exploited his position and reputation to manipulate and sexually abuse a young girl he initially met at a tournament in Lincolnshire.

According to court proceedings, Tendler used his influence as an elite table tennis player to groom the girl, who was then a rising star in the junior circuit. The court heard that he sent her explicit text messages, which he later claimed he believed were sent by someone over the age of 16, as he was under the impression she was at least 16. Despite this, his actions included grooming behaviors, such as offering her alcohol, taking her to bars and clubs in London's West End, and engaging in repeated sexual acts with her.

The court was told that Tendler's misconduct was not limited to private encounters. He arranged to meet her multiple times, including in a restaurant toilet and at the Liverpool Street offices of the bank where he worked, which had basement table tennis tables. On one occasion, he ordered staff to leave the post room so he could sexually assault her again, changing into table tennis attire to facilitate their meetings. The girl described how Tendler would lock the door and ask the postman to leave, ensuring privacy for his illicit activities.

The girl, who was only 15 at the time, recounted her feelings of confusion and pressure, stating, “The first time it happened I did not particularly want it to happen. I just wanted to keep him happy.” Her emotional distress was profound, leading her to attempt suicide twice during the ordeal. She also described how Tendler insisted that their relationship was not illegal because they were not engaging in full sexual intercourse, claiming they were only involved in activities short of that.

Throughout their relationship, Tendler persistently asked her for naked photographs and even inquired if she had a friend for his 27-year-old acquaintance. The girl became increasingly depressed, and her mental health deteriorated significantly. After her second overdose attempt, Tendler reportedly told her it would be “a good idea if we could be friends,” a statement that further highlighted the manipulative nature of his conduct. Eventually, she learned that Tendler was married with two children, which made her realize she had been used and objectified, feeling like a mere sex object.

During the trial, the court was shown that Tendler had stored 12 photographs of the girl, some of her in underwear or naked, on his computer. He claimed he never suspected she was underage, asserting that she appeared very mature and looked to him to be 18. He insisted that he believed she was at least 16, based on her own statements, and that he never engaged in full sexual intercourse with her because he thought her first experience should be with someone special, which he claimed he was not.

Judge Inigo Bing, presiding over the case at London's Snaresbrook Crown Court, emphasized the breach of trust and the harm caused to the young girl. He condemned Tendler’s actions, stating, “Her father was entitled to expect that when his daughter went to official table tennis events she would not be molested or sexually abused.” The judge highlighted the girl’s vulnerability, her low self-esteem, and her mourning over her mother’s premature death as factors that exacerbated her suffering.

In his sentencing, Judge Bing noted the aggravating features of the case, including the duration of the abuse, the abuse of his position as her unofficial coach, and his request for her to supply nude or semi-nude photographs. Tendler was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of his misconduct and the breach of trust inherent in his role as a coach and respected athlete in the British table tennis community.