OLYMPIC COACH APPEARS IN COURT ACCUSED OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES
Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, whose address was given as one in Warrington, is alleged to have committed a number of sex offences between 2012 and 2024.The 65-year-old, who also goes by the name Vicente Modahl, appeared from custody at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today, Tuesday, for a 15-minute hearing.
No pleas were indicated, and district judge Richard Jepson told him that some of the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.
As a result, he sent the case to Manchester Crown Court and granted the defendant conditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 18.
One bail condition is to reside at an address in the Warrington area, while others include abiding by an electronic monitoring curfew from 9 pm to 7 am, and not to contact witnesses in the case.
Modahl, who was arrested at an airport as he returned to the UK from Spain, must also not apply for any travel documents through British, Norwegian, or Spanish authorities, and he was also ordered to surrender his Spanish passport.
The court heard that the defendant has been suspended by governing body UK Athletics.
Modahl, the husband of former Commonwealth Games 800m champion Diane Modahl, is accused of two counts of raping a child and five counts of sexually assaulting a child.
He is also charged with two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of assault by penetration of a child.
He is further accused of charges against adult women, including two counts of rape, four of sexual assault, and one of causing a woman to engage in sexual activity.
None of the details of the alleged offences were outlined in court at this stage.
