Coach charged with rape, to return to court today

The high school track and field coach who is accused of raping one of his athletes in December of last year is set to return to the St Catherine Parish Court today.

The accused, who has coached at several schools, was released on bail on his first court appearance.

On January 22, members of the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISCOCA) swooped down on the St Catherine-based institution, where the coach is based and arrested him.

According to the Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, at about 2 p.m. on December 13, 2017, the female student, after completing track and field training, was offered a ride by the coach to a nearby bus stop.

The accused reportedly drove past the bus stop and on to a dirt track off the Spanish Town bypass, close to the El Prado Housing Scheme in St Catherine, where he sexually assaulted her.

The coach has been charged with abduction, indecent assault and rape.

The motor vehicle in which the incident allegedly happened was also seized by the police.