Deal

A former boxing coach from Forest Gate, known only as Deal, has been jailed for five years following his guilty pleas to a series of historical child sex offences committed against a young fighter approximately 40 years ago. The case, heard at Inner London Crown Court, exposed a prolonged pattern of grooming and abuse that left the victim, now 53, seeking justice decades later.

Prosecutor Chris Stimpson detailed how Deal, who worked as a coach at a boxing club in East Ham, groomed the boy before carrying out repeated attacks. These included molesting the victim hundreds of times, indecent assaults in his car in Barking, and raping him at his home. Stimpson emphasised the scale of the abuse, stating: “This happened hundreds of times according to the victim.” The offences spanned multiple incidents of sexual exploitation, highlighting Deal's position of trust as a coach to vulnerable young people.

Judge Roger Chapple, presiding over the sentencing on 10th January 2013, described the crimes as a “course of persistent sexual abuse with a child that would fill any right-thinking person with revulsion.” The judge acknowledged Deal's deteriorating health but deemed the gravity of the offences warranted a custodial sentence of five years. Deal had pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault on a male person, two counts of buggery, and one count of indecency with a child, demonstrating the breadth of his predatory behaviour.

The victim, supported by law firm Pannone, expressed relief in a statement following the sentencing: “I am relieved that I have finally been able to face the events of the past and that my tormentor is to be punished by the court for his crimes.” He raised concerns about potential other victims, urging: “My fear though is that other boys were abused by this man and if they were, I would urge them to do as I have done and to contact the police and seek legal advice.” Pannone is assisting the victim with a civil action against the now-relocated East Ham boxing club, attempting to trace its current location for accountability.

This case underscores the long-term impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of historical prosecutions. Reported by the Newham Recorder on 11th January 2013, it serves as a reminder of the revulsion such offences provoke and the necessity for vigilance in community sports settings.