Swimming coach Richard ‘Dick’ Caine raped and sexually assaulted young athletes

A former coach of a top swimming team is alleged to have committed dozens of horrific sexual assaults on six young athletes who trained under his guidance in the 1970s and 1980s.

Richard “Dick” Caine, now in his late 70s, was found guilty on Wednesday of 39 crimes, including rape and sexual assault, against female members of his swim team, ages 10 to 16, in the 1970s and 1980s.

The attacks took place at Carss Park swimming pool in Sydney’s south, as well as at Caine’s home and in his car.

Several of the victims were virgins when they were raped by Caine. One of them said she had never even been kissed by a boy.

Caine, who once trained a number of swimming champions, is now in palliative care.

He did not have to respond directly to the allegations, meaning the case was heard in a special hearing rather than a trial.

In passing sentence, New South Wales District Court Judge Paul McGuire said he found the victims’ evidence reliable, despite the significant amount of time that had passed since the incidents.

“I am satisfied that each of the elements of each of the offences has been proven beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

Several victims present in the courtroom breathed a sigh of relief, hugged each other and wiped away tears as the verdicts were read.

“We did it,” said one of them.

Judge McGuire found that the coach had an interest in girls in puberty and adolescence and acted on that interest, including raping a girl who was 10 years old at the time.

The court heard that one of the victims had genuine ambitions for the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, but these ambitions were dashed because of Caine’s behaviour.

A number of victims reported being afraid of Caine because of his authority and coaching style.

Several victims reported pornography and alcohol in the coach’s home and sightings of the suspect’s horse. Prosecutors said these findings corroborated their claims.

Several victims testified that they feared Caine because of his authority and coaching style

One of the victims gave a “harrowing” account of her hands being tied, while later recalling seeing a used condom next to the bed.

Prosecutors said the victim’s story was “so detailed and convincing” that it had to be true.

Caine’s lawyers argued that the evidence related to incidents that occurred about 50 years ago and was unreliable.

However, Judge McGuire ruled that all of the victims’ testimonies were honest and reliable, even though they were willing to make concessions about details they could not precisely remember.

He noted that one of them provided compelling evidence: “She wouldn’t bother herself, her husband and her family with this if what she said was a lie.”

The case will return to court on December 6 to determine the sentence.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028