More British athletes convicted in connection with Baptiste case

Three former British athletes, including 2010 Commonwealth Games 200‑metre gold medallist Leon Baptiste, have been convicted in Morocco for their role in the sexual assault of a minor. Baptiste was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment, later reduced to eight on appeal, and the other men received suspended sentences and small fines for participating in the enticement of the victim.

The case stemmed from an incident at a villa in Tamensourt, a suburb of Marrakech, where a 16‑year‑old girl claimed she was brought to the property by Baptiste, was promised money for sex, and was physically assaulted by a housekeeper after she was accused of stealing a watch. Police raided the villa following the girl’s complaint. Baptiste was found guilty of sexual assault of a minor and is currently serving his sentence in Al‑Oudaya prison. He resigned as a consultant coach with UK Athletics on 18 August, citing unspecified ill‑health, and will be deported after release.

The other convictions involved two former Commonwealth athletes and a former bobsleigh competitor. Will Sharman, a two‑time Commonwealth silver medallist in the 110‑metre hurdles, his brother Richard Sharman, a former elite bobsleigh rider, and Lamin Deen, a former Olympic bobsleigh athlete, were each given four‑month suspended sentences and fines of 500 dirhams (about £40). The men were also convicted of participating in the enticement of a minor, a charge distinct from the separate offence of inciting prostitution, on which they were acquitted. Their lawyers said the men were unaware of the convictions until informed by BBC Sport and claimed they had believed the matter was closed after paying a small administrative fine.

Other individuals were also found guilty. The villa’s housekeeper and two security guards received two‑month suspended sentences and fines of 5,000 dirhams (≈ £396) each. The manager of the Montecristo nightclub, where the group met the girl, was sentenced to two months’ jail, and a waiter and the agency that rented the villa were also prosecuted. The victim, a Moroccan national, was awarded civil compensation of 60,000 dirhams (≈ £4,784) to be paid jointly by all convicted parties, plus court costs.

The investigation began after the girl contacted Moroccan authorities, prompting a raid. The villa’s owner and the nightclub’s management were implicated in facilitating the encounter. The Montecristo nightclub, described as a “temple dedicated to partying in Marrakech,” had been closed by authorities and has not reopened since.

In a statement to BBC Sport, a spokesperson for the five men said they were “shocked and distressed” and denied knowingly engaging in unlawful conduct. The spokesperson added that the men believed they had complied with all requirements, noting that they had paid a £40 administrative fine and thought the matter was resolved. The men’s lawyers highlighted that the court process was not conducted in English and that they were not present at any hearing.

UK government departments – the Foreign Office, Home Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport – declined to comment on the convictions or the safeguarding concerns raised. The case has drawn attention to the rapid progression of Moroccan criminal proceedings, where Baptiste appeared before a judge within weeks of his arrest, rather than a jury trial.

Baptiste’s conviction, the swift judicial process, and the involvement of several high‑profile former athletes have sparked discussion in the UK about safeguarding standards for athletes abroad. The UK Athletics organisation has not issued a formal statement beyond the resignation notice. The Moroccan public ministry’s court judgment confirms that the men “assisted him in deceiving the minor and persuading her to engage in sexual relations,” constituting participation in the enticement of a minor. The convictions were upheld after an appeal hearing in July.