Dick Caine
Richard Caine (13 February 1946 – 25 September 2024) was an Australian Olympic swimming coach who was convicted in 2024 of 39 sexual offences committed against his female students in the 1970s and 1980s.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Caine was the head coach at Carss Park swimming pool in Sydney for more than 40 years until his retirement in 2018.[3]
In 2022, he was inducted into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall. However, his induction was nullified a few months later due to nine counts of sexual abuse levied against him. The charges related to allegations which spanned from the 1970s to the 1980s, and eventually numbered 39.[3]
Caine died from lung and throat cancer on 25 September 2024, at the age of 78.[3]
Career
[edit]Caine served as the head coach at Carss Park Swimming Pool in southern Sydney for over 40 years before retiring in 2018. Throughout his 51-year tenure at the pool, he coached 17 swimmers who became Olympic and World Champions, as well as many state and national champions. This include notable athletes like Michelle Ford, Janelle Elford, Karen Phillips, Stacey Gartrell, and Michellie Jones.[4]
Sexual charges
[edit]Caine was convicted by court to have had sexual intercourse with his female students who were between the age of 10 and 16 years in the 1970s and 1980s.[5] The crime was committed in his place of work, Carss Park swimming pool in Sydney’s south, in his car and at his home.[6] The court found out that Caine had deep interest in pre-pubescent and pubescent girls.[1][7]
Convictions
[edit]Due to the health of Caine, he did not answer the allegations directly. Therefore, the case was done in a special hearing instead of a trial. Although, Caine's lawyer argued that the incidents took place 50 years ago and the evidences are not reliable but the Judge objected and insisted that the victims' evidences are trustworthy. The judge, Paul McGuire, revealed that he found evidence given by the victims to be reliable despite the passage of years.[6] He also quoted one of the victims that said she would not gain anything from exposing herself and her family if she was lying.[6] The court agreed to meet by 6 December in order to determine the penalty for Caine. However, Caine died before the date.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Australian paedophile swimming coach Dick Caine dies after conviction". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Dying swim coach found to have raped and sexually assaulted six girls". ABC News. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Sutherland, James (23 June 2022). "Australian Hall of Fame Swim Coach Dick Caine Charged in Sexual Abuse Allegations". SwimSwam. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Staff, A. O. L. (25 September 2024). "Paedophile swimming coach dies after conviction". www.aol.com. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ "Paedophile Sydney swimming coach Dick Caine dies weeks after convictions". 7News. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Former elite Australian swimming coach convicted over dozens of sexual assaults on athletes as young as 10". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 28 August 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Genders, Tiffiny (25 September 2024). "Paedophile swim coach Dick Caine dies in hospital". The Age. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ Costin, Luke; Murray, Duncan (25 September 2024). "Swim coach Dick Caine dies before sex abuse sentencing". The North West Star. Retrieved 28 September 2024.