Former sports coach guilty of historic sexual offences including raping a child

John Regan pictured in the Teesdale Mercury in 1998

A FORMER Teesdale sports coach has been found guilty of a string of historic sexual offences including the rape of a child. John Regan, 66, of South Road, High Etherley, faced 11 charges which were said to have taken place in the 1970s involving two girls aged between nine and 14 who are now both in their fifties.
He was well known for forming Teesdale Gymnastics Club in the 1990s – years after the offences took place.
Regan, who was in his mid-20s at the time of the offences, denied four counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency.
He was found guilty of all 11 offences today after a trial held at Durham Crown Court. The jury reached a unanimous verdict. Regan has been remanded in custody and is expected to be sentenced later this month.
Last week the court heard how the first victim had been left “frightened” by Regan’s threats to kill her and her parents if she ever told anyone about what was happening.
She said: “He frightened me. He forced me to do things. I was scared of the threats. I thought he would kill me or my mum and dad which he threatened to do on a number of occasions."
Judge Simon Hickey said: "You have been found guilty by unanimous verdicts of the jury on all of these counts. The two complainants who have borne this abuse for so long gave clear evidence and the jury have found guilt on it."
Judge Hickey warned Regan: "It will be a substantial sentence."


Full story in next week's Teesdale Mercury.