Salisbury sports coach has been found guilty of raping a teenager

A sports coach has been found guilty of raping an 18-year-old girl at his home while his partner was present.

James Owen, 55, from Salisbury, was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault following a trial at Winchester Crown Court.

His partner, Ellen Rae, 51, was also found guilty of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

Owen was remanded in custody and Rae was released on bail ahead of their sentencing on August 16 at Salisbury Crown Court.

During a nine-day trial, the court heard how Owen sexually assaulted the teenager during fitness sessions at his home between January and February 2021.

On another occasion, in February of the same year, he raped the teenager in a hot tub at his home while Rae was present.

“James Owen used his position as a fitness trainer to exploit a vulnerable teenage girl by intimately touching her under the pretense of exercising, this was weeks before an incident in which he lured the victim to from home under false pretenses. claims, offering her alcohol and later raping her in the presence of his partner Ellen Rae,” Det Con Martyn Powell said.

“Rae played a key role in assisting Mr Owen by caring for the victim prior to this incident.

“It takes great courage to report incidents like this to anyone, let alone the police. In this case, the victim showed great courage in going to trial over three years.”