Champion figure skater told to expect prison for string of sex offences on teenagers

Jamie Whiteman, 20, groomed teenagers who had a schoolgirl crush on the Olympic hopeful encouraging them in a string of sex acts as he moved from one girl to another over 20 months.

Whiteman, who has taken part in four National Championships, repeatedly had sex with one 13-year-old girl, Hull Crown Court was told today (24th June).

He also encouraged four girls to send pictures of themselves performing indecent acts and witnessed another child partially undressed.

Whiteman, who took part in the World Junior Championships in 2013, pleaded guilty to 16 offences before a scheduled trial. The five teenage girls were on standby to give evidence.

Whiteman, dressed in a silver suit and watched by his family from the public gallery, pleaded guilty to one charge of making indecent photographs of children, eight charges of inciting or causing children to engage in sexual activity, one charge of voyeurism and four charges of sexual activity with a child.

Whiteman, who is originally from Huthwaite, gave his current address as Woodend Drive, Ravenshead.

He finished 7th in the European Youth Olympics in 2011 before the offending took place. He took part in the World Junior Championships in 2013 making a personal best in the short programme.

Defence barrister Anil Murray admitted whatever the outcome of the case, his professional ambition had been thwarted.

“He will no longer be an ice skater,” he said.

“The defendant accepts he asked the complainants for indecent images of themselves and sent indecent images himself. This was against a background of strong mutual attraction. In one female’s case he accepts the sexual acts were mutually consensual, and while he was aware of her chronological age, she appeared mature above her years.”

Crown barrister John Thackray said the CPS had considered the photographic image of one of the main complainants in the case and said she looked her age at the time – she was between 12 and 13-years-old.

Judge Mark Bury told Whiteman (pictured leaving court): “Let me make this plain to you. You have pleaded guilty to very serious offences against girls who were under 16.

“These are 16 offences of a sexual nature. You had indicated your plea of guilty to some of these offences before today and the rest today for the first time.

“You are a young man with no record of previous offending. I have not yet decided the sentence I will impose. Please understand because I am granting you bail that is not an indication of sentence. All sentencing options are open, including custody. You must, if I were you, come with a bag prepared to be locked up on the next occasion.”

Whiteman will be sentenced on 27th July.