COACH JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES DESPITE WARNINGS
James Russell, a coach of UK Athletics, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex offences.The victim, who was abused starting in 2020 and had been part of Russell's 'Team Russell' squad since 2019, delivered an emotional impact statement in court describing her trauma.
Russell set up his own athletics coaching business and continued coaching athletes despite warnings from parents and authorities about inappropriate messages sent to minors aged 13-17 between 2013 and 2018.
He was charged with inciting and engaging in sexual exploitation of a child and sexual communication with a minor.
The victim detailed how Russell's abusive pattern escalated over time, culminating in explicit images and sexual demands during video calls.
The case revealed that authorities and UK Athletics had prior knowledge of some concerns but failed to act decisively, allowing Russell to continue coaching until investigations began in December 2020.
Russell was sentenced in January 2026 and received a sexual harm prevention order plus an indefinite restraining order.
