KARN DUFFETY YATE BRISTOL SWIMMING TEACHER JAILED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Yate and the wider Bristol area, Karn Duffety, a former swimming instructor and youth group volunteer, has been sentenced to prison for heinous crimes involving minors. The 20-year-old, who previously worked at various gyms and leisure centers across Bristol, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses, including the rape of a young boy and the sexual abuse of a girl.

Duffety's criminal actions came to light after police investigations revealed a pattern of disturbing behavior. He was accused of forcing a boy under the age of 13 to perform oral sex on him. The incident reportedly involved Duffety using a stopwatch to time the abuse, with the longer the act continued, the more time the victim was allowed to use his mobile phone. It was alleged that the boy was coerced into performing the act in exchange for playing a game of Snake on his phone. This particular incident was initially investigated by police, but the case was dropped after Duffety denied any wrongdoing at the time.

Further allegations emerged when, in January of the previous year, Duffety was accused of exposing himself to a girl and forcing her to touch his genitals. The girl delayed reporting the incident, which is believed to have occurred before November 2015, due to threats made by Duffety, who allegedly told her he would break her neck if she told anyone. These threats, combined with the victim’s fear, prevented immediate reporting, but police later seized Duffety’s phone during their investigation.

Upon examination, authorities discovered 146 indecent images of children stored on his device. The police also uncovered evidence that Duffety had expressed perverted sexual desires online, further highlighting the extent of his misconduct. At the time of his arrest, Duffety was employed as a swimming instructor at Horfield Leisure Centre, working for the leisure centre operator Everyone Active.

During his trial at Bristol Crown Court, Duffety admitted to charges including raping a child under 13, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and possessing indecent images of children. Prosecutor Charles Row described Duffety as someone who “appeared to have no sexual boundaries,” and noted that his disturbing sexual behavior was ongoing despite his mother’s complaints. “He was completely unapologetic,” Mr. Row stated, emphasizing the lack of remorse and the persistent nature of his misconduct.

Judge William Hart sentenced Duffety to five years in prison, with an additional three years on extended licence. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from having contact with children under 16, and mandated that he sign the Sexual Offenders Register for life. These measures aim to protect the community from further harm and to monitor his activities closely in the future.

Duffety’s case has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community, raising serious concerns about safeguarding and the oversight of individuals working with children in the Bristol and Yate areas.