A swimming instructor and Dartford Paedophile, Michael Drew, who inflicted egregious sexual assault on young boys under the guise of enhancing their athletic prowess, has been incarcerated once more.
Michael Drew was a distinguished paedophile swimming instructor who trained boys in South London, East London, and Essex for forty years.
He ascended to the presidency of the British Swimming Coaches Association but was exposed in 2000 when five boys disclosed the abuse he had inflicted against them from 1969 to 1991.
Michael Drew was incarcerated for six years in 2001, a sentence that raised apprehensions over the broader issue of child sexual abuse within the sport.
In 2022, a sixth historical victim reported to the authorities the abuse he endured at Michael Drew’s hands during the 1970s.
On Friday, June 28, 2024, the much-loved Dartford Child Molester, 78-year-old sex offender, was sentenced to an additional two years and three months of incarceration.
‘Evil’
Michael Drew, of Wilmington, Dartford, was a highly respected coach who taught talented young swimmers in areas including Hornchurch, Laindon, Bromley and Crystal Palace.
The latest victim to come forward was abused by Drew between the ages of 13 and 15.
Prosecutor Madeleine Wolfe told Croydon Crown Court that the young boy had relied on his coach to improve his performance as he was competing in tournaments.
“So when Mr Michael Drew said a medical procedure was necessary in training, he did not consider refusing or questioning it,” Ms Wolfe said.
Michael Drew made the boy perform sex acts while telling him it would increase his level of Vitamin E and swimming performance.
When he came forward in 2022, the victim told police that he had trusted Michael Drew implicitly, and he assumed the abuse was for his benefit.
In a victim impact statement, he described Michael Drew as “evil” and told the court how the abuse had impacted his entire adult life.
He said: “The biggest regret of this sad criminal offence was that I could not speak about what happened to me.
“Throughout the 1970s, I struggled with the ability to make friends due to the barriers.
“In my education, I found it difficult to concentrate at school due to what was happening to me.
“I have a sense of guilt for not speaking out sooner. The rational side of me wanted to get it out, but the emotional side of me wanted to keep it in.”
‘Madness’
After the latest victim came forward, Michael Drew was arrested again and later pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault.
His barrister, James Manning, told the court: “Mr Michael Drew tells me he feels ashamed and referred to his behaviour as madness.”
But Mr Manning urged Judge Daniel Flahive to give his client a suspended sentence rather than sending him to prison.
Mr Manning said: “He was convicted in 2001 and was given a significant sentence. He spent a long time in custody, and the system has worked in that he has not reoffended. He has come out and lived a different life.”
“He no longer poses a threat to children, or for that matter, anybody.”
But Judge Flahive decided a prison sentence was necessary to punish Michael Drew.
Judge Flahive said, “It took [the victim] a great deal of courage to come forward in 2022.
“He was in his teens in the 1970s, and he looked up to you as a swimming coach.
“You were renowned in your field. The boys thought the world of you and looked to you to help their future careers as swimmers.
“You took advantage of that.”
He concluded: “He was a child and he was vulnerable. All of this drives me to the opinion that there has to be a prison sentence here.”
Michael Drew was sentenced to JUST two years and three months in custody.
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