Andrew Sherry

Andrew Sherry, an 82-year-old founder member of the Karate Union of Great Britain and a ninth dan black belt, faced serious allegations of sexual offences against teenage boys. In March 2024, he was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of one count of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 16 in the mid-1980s, as well as four counts of sexual assault on an older teenager believed to have occurred in 2011 or 2012. Following the conviction, Sherry was sentenced to two years in prison in May 2024.

The trial revealed that Sherry had achieved significant prominence in the karate community, having founded the Red Triangle karate club in Everton, Liverpool. He retired from the sport in March 2022 after a police investigation was launched into the historical allegations. At the sentencing hearing, his defence barrister, Tania Griffiths KC, argued on his behalf, stating: 'He has lost everything by these convictions. He's lost his good name, lost his reputation and lost his world standing.' This highlighted the profound impact the charges had on Sherry's long-standing career and reputation in martial arts.

However, the case took a dramatic turn when Sherry's convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal in September 2024, leading to the ordering of a retrial. The retrial took place at Liverpool Crown Court, where a jury cleared Sherry of all five counts. The acquittal restored his legal standing, though the proceedings underscored the complexities of historical sexual offence cases and the scrutiny faced by prominent figures.

The case was reported by BBC News North West on 6 November 2025, drawing attention to the initial jailing and subsequent exoneration. Merseyside Police conducted the investigation, reflecting the force's role in pursuing allegations of child sex offences and sexual assaults within the region.