Former Norwegian Olympic coach charged with 19 sexual offences

Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, a 65-year-old former Olympic athletics coach, has been charged with 19 sexual offences, including two counts of raping a child, alleged to have occurred between 2012 and 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The Norwegian national is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates Court on Tuesday, the CPS said, after an investigation by Greater Manchester Police.

The charges, all said to relate to the same woman, include multiple counts of sexual assault, assault by penetration, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity, in addition to offences alleged against an adult female and a single count of controlling and coercive behaviour. The CPS said prosecutors had concluded there was sufficient evidence to bring the case and that it was in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

Deputy chief crown prosecutor James Bolton-Smith said the CPS had worked closely with Greater Manchester Police during the investigation. He said prosecutors had established that there was sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it was in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

Greater Manchester Police opened an investigation after...