Karate champion, 80, jailed for sexually assaulting teenage boys

A 'lauded' and 'celebrated' karate champion has been handed a two-year prison term after he was convicted for sexually abusing teenagers.

Andrew Sherry, 80, was a founding member of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). He was found guilty following a trial in March of indecently assaulting one boy, under the age of 16, in the mid-1980s, and of four counts of sexual assault on an older teenager in 2011 or 2012.

The aged ninth dan black belt established the Red Triangle karate club in Everton, achieving high status in the sport before his retirement in March 2022, initiated by a police investigation, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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Sentencing him, Judge David Swinnerton said: "You have lived a life in which you have been lauded and celebrated while your victims have suffered."

He added that even though Sherry, who had no previous convictions, positively impacted many youthful individuals, it was apparent that his interest towards young men surpassed their "sporting prowess".

He said: "It is perhaps a tragedy for you, your karate club and those who will be impacted, but particularly for your victims, that you were unable to exercise the discipline and self control which I understand is central to karate when it came to your sexuality."

During the trial, Sherry's defence team claimed the allegations were the result of a conspiracy by other practitioners who wanted to "overthrow their leader".

The court heard Sherry had assaulted one boy in the mid-1980s and asked him to perform "special favours". The boy said Sherry had wrestled with him while at his bungalow in West Derby, Liverpool, before taking him to Knowsley Safari Park where he