ENGLAND BOXING COACH JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS
A court heard that Michael Driscoll, a former boxing champion and respected England boxing coach, was accused of sexual assault.He claimed that a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, attempted to seduce him by wearing silky black lingerie after he was lured to her hotel room between 6.30am and 7am in 2019.
Driscoll denied the allegations, stating, "She had her negligee on," and insisted he had been drinking with her until late the night before.
Prosecutor Oliver Dunkin questioned Driscoll about the woman's attire, to which he responded, "Yes, sir," when asked if she was dressed in black silk underwear seven and a half hours later, ready to seduce him.
Dunkin challenged the idea, suggesting it was a clichéd outfit and implying it was fabricated.
Driscoll rebutted, claiming the woman denied she was wearing sexy underwear, describing an incident where she was allegedly picked up and thrown onto the bed, and fought him off.
Driscoll alleged she had a heavy period and was under the influence of hormonal changes, questioning her honesty about her reactions.
He also denied calling her a derogatory term and insisted he never abused his position.
The court also heard that Driscoll was accused of groping the woman on another occasion in the same year.
He worked as a talent scout overseeing the development of over 100 champions and narrowly missed selection for the Seoul Olympics as a boxer.
He has three prior convictions for drink driving, battery, and failing to stop after a car accident.
Driscoll denies three counts of sexual assault, and the trial at Lewes Crown Court in Brighton continues.
——————————————————————— Sentencing update December 2025: An England boxing coach has been jailed after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on two separate occasions in 2019.
Trainer and former light-welterweight Michael "Mick" Driscoll was convicted on two counts by a unanimous verdict at Lewes Crown Court, sitting in Brighton, on 22 September.
The 56-year-old was found not guilty of a third charge of sexual assault in 2019 by a majority of the jury.
On Friday, Driscoll was jailed for three years and then another four months to be served concurrently.
He could spend up to half his sentence in prison before being eligible for parole, and will remain on the sex offender register indefinitely.
At trial, prosecutor Oliver Dunkin told the court the one-time Olympic hopeful had barged his way into the woman's Brighton hotel room, pinned her to the wall and tried to kiss her.
She managed to break away, the jury heard, but he then "stripped to his underpants" and threw her onto the bed before "ripping at her nightie, trying to pull it up".
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: "He jumped up and grabbed me." She described him as being very strong, adding: "He was slobbering all over me." The jury cleared Driscoll of pushing his way into the woman's room, pinning her to the wall and trying to kiss her, but found him guilty of subsequently assaulting her.
In addition, they ruled Driscoll had groped the same woman later that year.
In her victim statement, the woman said she found it difficult to describe the impact the attacks had on her life and that she had flashbacks and nightmares.
Ian Hope, prosecuting, said the victim hoped Driscoll would now not be able to abuse other women or girls.
