MATT PEDAARZZINI FROM BIRMINGHAM OLYMPIC COACH JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRL

In August 2002, a former Olympic swimming coach from Birmingham, Matthew Pedrazzini, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after being convicted of engaging in unlawful sexual activities with a teenage girl. Pedrazzini, aged 35 at the time, exploited his authoritative position as the chief swimming coach employed by Birmingham City Council to manipulate and groom a 15-year-old girl for his own sexual gratification.

Pedrazzini’s background revealed a troubling history, as he had himself been subjected to abuse during his childhood in Australia. Despite this, he expressed feelings of deep shame regarding his recent actions. The court was informed that the girl, who cannot be publicly identified due to legal restrictions, was suffering from significant mental health issues, including an eating disorder and the use of anti-depressant medication, at the time of the incidents.

Prosecutor Edward Cook detailed the disturbing events, stating that Pedrazzini took the girl to his flat located in Birmingham city centre in August 2000. According to the prosecution, Pedrazzini began to undress her and performed various sexual acts upon her before escorting her to his bedroom. It was emphasized that the girl was a virgin prior to these encounters. Over the course of the following days, Pedrazzini engaged in sexual activity with her on three additional occasions at his flat.

The girl, whose identity remains protected by law, confided in another swimming coach about the incidents. Unfortunately, her concerns were dismissed, with the coach advising her to “put it behind her.” Following Pedrazzini’s arrest, authorities discovered indecent images of children stored on his laptop computer, further implicating him in inappropriate conduct.

During the court proceedings, defense lawyer Tracey Lloyd-Nesling described Pedrazzini as a “lonely man” who had suffered abuse at the hands of Catholic priests in Australia. She emphasized his remorse, stating that he was “deeply ashamed of what has happened and the way he behaved.”

Judge David Matthews delivered the sentence, condemning Pedrazzini’s actions as a calculated grooming process aimed at persuading the young girl to engage in sexual acts. The judge highlighted that Pedrazzini’s conduct spanned four consecutive days in August 2000, during which he showed little or no affection after succeeding in his objective. The court also ordered Pedrazzini to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years and mandated the destruction of his laptop computer.

Pedrazzini had previously pleaded guilty to four charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 and eleven charges related to possession of indecent images. His career in Birmingham began in January 2000 after joining the Birmingham Swimming Club. His coaching credentials included working with Australian Olympic gold medalists and the Malaysian National team at the 1989 Asian Games, making his misconduct all the more shocking given his prominent position in the sport.