Top Swim Coach Accused Of Molesting 14 Year-Old Says: "This Is Like A Fantasy World"

Smith: "Fantasy"

The former award-winning national director of the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association, accused of repeatedly sexually abusing an infatuated 14 year-old girl four decades ago, told police: "This is like a fantasy world," a jury heard today.

Hugh Hamilton Smith, 76, of Southbank Court, Easter Park Drive, Cramond, Edinburgh first french-kissed the girl when they were alone in a ladies changing room before embarking an a year-long campaign of sexual activity, Croydon Crown Court was told. 

He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecently assaulting the teenager between August 1, 1973 and May 31, 1975 while the head coach of Beckenham Ladies Swimming Club in south-east London.

Two counts of indecent assault were dropped halfway through the trial.

Smith, - known as 'Hammie' - who was an assistant coach on the Great Britain 1964 Olympic team and went on to coach ten Olympians and thirty internationals told officers: "I have never gone into the ladies changing room in forty to fifty years of coaching."

The complainant, now aged 55 years-old,  said she was a keen competitive swimmer and trained daily at the now-demolished Beckenham Grove Baths and at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, south-east London under the tutelage of Smith.

However, when questioned at Bromley Police Station on January 28, last year by the borough's Child Abuse Investigation Team the Paisley-native said: "I had very little to do with her coaching.

"I can't understand why anyone would make these allegations."

The complainant says Smith, who was denied a place on Scotland's 1958 Commonwealth Games swim team after breaking his leg skiing, progressed to groping her in his white Volvo car then engaging in oral sex with her at his home when his wife and two young sons were not around.

"I did not even know what oral sex was in 1973 and 1974," he told the officers. "This has come as a great shock to me, to my system.

"I've never been involved in a sexual context with any young girl or boy in my swimming career.

"She could be disturbed, it's the only logical explanation. I am utterly appalled by these allegations coming at this time."

Smith struggled to identify any motive for the complaint, suggesting: "It could only be done for some sort of revenge or doing it in the light of this Jimmy Savile thing, thinking I was some sort of predator or seeking compensation or attention."

The complainant told the court during a video interview: "I was so naive, I was in love with him and I thought he was in love with me. I wanted to do what he wanted, I wanted to please him I suppose.

"He was an attractive man, quite charming, with a twinkle in his eye and a nice smile. He was fun.

"He was quite tanned, he had been an international swimmer, I think, and was quite fit and looked strong."

Prosecutor Mr. Mark Halsey told the jury the abuse began a few months after the death of the girl's father with comments about her being "well developed" and "top heavy" after a false start in a relay race.

The girl was a regular baby-sitter for Smith, who during the year-long abuse told her: "Don't tell anyone about this." 

"He came into my cubicle and he kissed me," she said. "I had a bit of a crush on him, I suppose.

"I looked up to him. I was a bit in love with him in a teenage way."

She said Smith regularly gave her lifts in his white Volvo and would listen to Radio Two.

Smith: "Not Guilty"

"I remember him singing along and looking at me and smiling," she explained, recalling one particular incident.

"He touched my breasts and then he would get me to put my hand on his penis," adding that Smith also fondled her between her legs and asked: "Was that better than when you do it yourself?"

There was a similar incident in Smith's kitchen, where the girl would have breakfast after early-morning training, the jury heard.

"I was wearing my school uniform and he put his hand up my skirt. Once he pressed so hard he lifted me off the ground."

The defendant took her to his bedroom, when his wife was away, and oral sex took place it is claimed. "I remember feeling that I did not want to be doing this."

Smith organised a weekend's training at the National Sports Centre and tried to get into the girl's room, she recalled.

"He was banging on the door and seemed quite cross. The door was locked."

She says the Jimmy Savile scandal prompted her to come forward after believing the events were too long ago and nobody would be interested in her complaint.

"People were coming forward daily with details of thirty, forty years ago. It was not too late, I would be listened to, the climate had changed.

"If I didn't say anything it's as if it didn't happen. It might have happened to other people and I might help other people."

Smith holds a degree in physical education and after teaching in Canada was invited to become England's first national swimming coach with the English Swimming Association.

He also lectured physical education at what is now the University of Edinburgh, was Scotland's swimming director for ten years and won GB's 'Coach of the Year' in 1975 and in 2002 received a lifetime achievement award from the British Swimming Coaches Association.

Trial continues...........