Tennis coach admits sex with schoolgirl
A TENNIS coach who indecently assaulted an underage schoolgirl has been jailed.
Simon Parkinson, who used to coach at a Tyneside tennis club, would “flirt” with the girl, causing her to become infatuated with him, before sexually abusing her.
She said nothing at the time but years later she revealed to her partner she’d had sex with Parkinson when she was 14 or 15. She went on to report what had happened to the police.
The victim said Parkinson,
60, of Cumberland Street, Wallsend, was “cheeky and rude”. David Comb, prosecuting, said that there came a point when Parkinson suggested they go to his flat on St George’s Terrace, in
Jesmond. Mr Comb said that they went straight to the bedroom and Parkinson had the girl perform a sex act on him then had sex with her and he didn’t stop despite her crying.
Mr Comb said, afterwards: “The defendant said ‘you can go now’. She said she felt rubbish, like she had done something wrong.” After that she saw him again and remembered being naked in his bedroom but couldn’t remember any detail, other than his friend turning up at the door while she hid in the bed.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “I had not thought of it as a crime but as an adult I decided it was time to tell someone the same happened to me. I had been told to keep it all a secret.”
The woman said she later went on to take an overdose and turned to alcohol. She added: “When I was told he had pleaded guilty I was shocked, I just didn’t think he would admit it. It had been a secret for so long.
“I was incredibly relieved not to have to go to court and convince 12 strangers I was telling the truth.”
Parkinson pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and was jailed for 54 months and was told he must sign the sex offenders register indefinitely. He was also made subject to a restraining order.
Matthew Donkin, defending, said: “He apologises and expresses remorse. He regrets his behaviour and he is aware his actions were wrong.
“He is suffering with a recurrent depressive disorder which is likely to deteriorate in a custodial setting. He is not a well man physically, he has ongoing difficulties.”