South Wales Swimming Teacher Sentenced After “Campaign of Sexual Abuse”

What was the Impact of Rixon’s Abuse?

During Rixon’s trial, statements were read out from the women who he had assaulted as children. Although the statements varied, the common theme that emerged was the fear of not being believed.

This is unfortunately something we commonly see where abusers in positions of power use their status to manipulate a vulnerable person like a child to keep the abuse that they’re suffering a secret.

One of the women said that although she knew at the time that it was wrong, she understandably felt “too scared to question an adult.” The Judge presiding over this case stated that Rixon would have been fully aware of the power dynamics at play and that he was actively “abusing his position of trust.”

What was also clear in all the statements read out was the long-lasting trauma that each of the women affected had been subjected to. Some were pushed to thoughts of suicide, others had used drugs as an escape, and others struggled with relationships. Along with this, some victims said that they felt unsafe around men and suffered from PTSD and panic attacks.

The court heart many heart wrenching impact statements about the ’campaign of sexual abuse’, with one victim recalling the harrowing effects, " Not only did you rob me of my innocence, but you have robbed the innocence of my children. Because of what you did, every day I worry and pass my trauma and anxiety onto them in ways I shouldn’t as a parent. 

Many of the women who joined Rixon’s swimming and lifeguarding club as children aspired to become lifeguards themselves. But now the prospect of even going near a pool is daunting for them, and something they can no longer do. One of the women described the “fear and panic” she still experiences in changing rooms and that the smell of chlorine alone is enough to trigger her anxiety.

Judge Catherine Richards addressed Rixon prior to his sentencing, with the following statement; “you were abusing your position of trust. You were calculated and manipulative – these are all the hallmarks of a predatory sexual offender.”

No one should have to go through something as traumatic as sexual abuse. If you’re a survivor of abuse, it can be extremely difficult to come to terms with and no amount of money will make up for what you’ve been through. We can provide you with details of support organisations and survivors groups who may be able to offer support, like the Survivors Trust, who provide specialist support for women, men and children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse. 

I Suffered Sexual Abuse as a Child – What Can I Do? 

Making the decision to take action after suffering abuse as a child can be difficult. But it could help to bring you a sense of closure and justice.

If you haven’t already, we would firstly encourage you to report what you went through to the police. They will talk you through the prosecution service before allowing you to have the final say on whether you’d like to proceed.

You also may be entitled to compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). CICA is a government body that was set up in 1965 to compensate the victims of violent crime, including sexual assault.

Whilst you don’t need to instruct a Solicitor to make a CICA claim, having a specialist solicitor experienced in abuse claims on your side can help to increase the chances of a successful outcome. We’ve represented clients in similar cases to the one described in this article and can help you navigate the process. For free and confidential initial advice, get in touch with our approachable and friendly Abuse Law team.

Making a Claim for Child Abuse 

Reporting any form of abuse to the police is crucial before any case takes place. If you have reason to believe that someone working in a position of power is abusing children, you should report these concerns to the police as well.

Abuse in places where there is a position of power could happen in many ways: 

• It can be a one-off incident, or it can happen on several occasions
• It can span several years
• There can be more than one victim
• There can been more than one abuser
• It can be sexual, physical or emotional
• It can happen in schools, extracurricular clubs (e.g scouts, cadets), church, children’s homes etc

We have helped many survivors bring a successful claim even if the abuse happened many years ago, allowing them to get the closure and justice they deserve.

Whatever your circumstances or your objectives, and even if you aren’t sure yet, our specialist Abuse Claims Solicitors can initially give you free and confidential legal advice so you can decide how you want to proceed.

When you're ready to talk, we're ready to listen