Former Olympic coach charged with rape and sexual assault of a child

A former Olympic coach has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting a child.

Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl, 65, who also goes by the name Vicente Modahl, is accused of a number of sex offences, alleged to have taken place between 2012 and 2024, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The Norwegian national, the husband of former Commonwealth Games 800m champion Diane Modahl, is accused of two counts of raping a child and five counts of sexually assaulting a child.

He is also charged with two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of assault by penetration of a child, the CPS said.

He is further accused of two counts of raping an adult female, two counts of sexually assaulting an adult female, one count of causing an adult female to engage in sexual activity, two counts of assault by penetration of an adult female and one count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

The CPS said all charges relate to the same woman.

Deputy chief crown prosecutor James Bolton-Smith said:  “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Vicente Leiva-Modahl for a number of serious sex offences, including offences relating to child sexual abuse.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Greater Manchester Police as they carried out their investigation.”

Modahl will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.