Gym coach victims “vindicated” as sneaky child abuser Mitchell Dolphin is jailed

By Michael MacLeod

A PERVERTED gym coach has been jailed for three years for sexually abusing girls as young as seven in more than two decades of sickening exploitation.

Mitchell Dolphin felt up girls in his own gymnasium and forced them to touch his privates, but continually denied he had done anything wrong.

JAILED: Mitchell Dolphin

The 51 year-old’s twisted tactics were branded “sneaky” by prosecutors during a four week trial, throughout which some of the youngsters bravely gave harrowing evidence.

Gratification

Sentencing the trampoline teacher today (Thurs), Sheriff Frank Crowe said there was no doubt Dolphin “took advantage of the athletes for his own sexual gratification.”

Relieved victims and their parents wept as the sentence was read out at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and afterwards spoke of their “vindication”.

Even one of the members of the jury who found Dolphin guilty was in court to see him being led to the cells.

One victim’s mother said: “This man was a complete beast, not to mention a liar.

“He has dragged my daughter and her friends through four horrible weeks in court and knowing him he probably enjoyed it. We’re delighted to see him jailed.”

Gym coach Mitch Dolphin jailed for three years over child sex crimes

BREAKING NEWS:

By Shaun Milne

A SHAMED Scots gym coach was jailed for three years today over a sordid campaign of abuse against girls aged as young as seven which spanned more than two decades.

Mitch Dolphin, 51, stuck his hands down young girl’s leotards, felt their breasts and even stuck his tongue in their mouths to satisfy his depravity.

VILE: pervert Mitch Dolphin

The sickening offences took place between 1986 and 2008 while he was the trusted head gymnastic coach at Lothian Gymnastic Centre based at Loanhead in Midlothian.

Area Procurator Fiscal Morag McLaughlin today praised the “courage” of his victims all through the trial which finally saw the filthy coach found guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court of seven charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practice.

He was also convicted of three charges of sexual assault.

After he was sent down Fiscal McLaughlin said: “Mitchell Dolphin took advantage of his position and the trust put in him by his victims and their families to carry out sexual abuse over a period of 22 years.

“This has been a difficult case for all those involved and I am very aware that it has not been easy for his victims to report him to the police and give evidence against him.

Abuse trial coach slams “draconian” child protection laws

By Michael MacLeod

A GYM coach accused of abusing pupils as young as 10 says child protection rules are “draconian.”

Trampoline teacher Mitchell Dolphin, 51, claims he had “perfectly legitimate reasons” for massaging young girls’ legs with oil and allowing them to sit on his knee while he cuddled them.

But he told a court yesterday (Mon) that child protection laws were outdated and that he only rubbed the youngsters’ legs because he “couldn’t afford a physio.”

He was giving evidence on the 13th day of a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where he faces sexual assault and lewd and libidinous behaviour charges, said to have occurred over a period of 22 years form April 1986 to February 2008, involving 13 girls.

Gymnastics association “warned about coach” twice

By Paul Thornton

A WHISTLEBLOWER who called in police over claims a top coach had abused 15 of his students yesterday revealed Scottish Gymnastics had already received two previous complaints about his behaviour – but allowed him to carry on in his job.

Lorna Whyte, 51, head of ethics and welfare at the Scottish Gymnastics Association since 1999, said they had been unable to act further because of a lack of information in the original allegations.

It wasn’t until December 2007 and January 2008 when another two students warned her about his alleged “inappropriate behaviour” that she reported Mitch Dolphin to the authorities.

Dolphin, 51, was later arrested and is now facing 22 charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and sexual assault at the LO-GY Centre that he ran in Loanhead, Midlothian

Complaints

Mrs Whyte revealed that she had received complaints from people in 2003 and 2006 about Dolphin but had been unable to follow them up.

And, she said, Scottish Gymnastics may even have had warnings about him as early as the mid-90s

Giving evidence at Dolphin’s trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court Mrs Whyte said she called in officers after following up an email from one of Dolphin’s pupils in December 2007.

Claims coach had girl’s period cycle on calendar

By Paul Thornton

A GYMNASTICS coach marked his star teenage pupil’s menstrual cycle on his calendar during a four-year campaign of sexual abuse, a court has heard.

Mitchell Dolphin, 51, kept notes of the young girl’s periods and even asked her mum if he could adopt her, it was claimed.

Mr Dolphin denies 22 charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and sexual assaults on 14 girls and a boy who he trained at the gymnasium he ran in Loanhead, Midlothian between April 1986 and last year.

Giving evidence at his trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday (Thursday) a girl who Mr Dolphin trained said he bought her gym equipment and took her to his home alone after sessions.

She said he would lay with her on his couch and move her against him and kiss her neck, as well as forcing her to sit on his knee while he drove her to competitions.