Wirral gym coach gives evidence over sex accusations

Dec 16 2011 by John Siddle, Liverpool Echo

A WIRRAL gym coach said his “world fell down like a ton of bricks” when he learned of allegations of sexual assault against two teenagers.

Jeff Rimmer, 46, the founder of Wallasey Gymnastics Club, robustly denied he offered a girl £20 to touch her breasts and touched a boy’s groin.

At a trial at Liverpool Crown Court, Rimmer said he felt “suicidal” when police arrested him at his Westbourne Road home in Wallasey.

The experienced coach, whose coaching level is just below international standard and who has taught an estimated 15,000 children, said the girl’s claim was motivated by jealousy against his “very successful” gymnast daughter.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, alleges he massaged her under her clothes as she lay on a crash mat at the gym, questioned her about sex and offered £10 for her to show her boobs “and £20 if you let me have a juggle”.

But asked if he had done anything untoward, Rimmer told the jury: “No, and I never have. Why would I? I have never asked any gymnast ‘have you had sex?’.”

He added: “I was in no way, never, attracted to the girl. She had a bad attitude. I liked her for her capability of a gymnast, but I was not in anyway attracted to her.

“I never talked to her about her breasts, not a word. Not a word, not on that day or any other day.”