Karate champion found guilty of sexual assaults on teenage boys

A karate champion regarded as a "hero" by his students has been found guilty of sexual assaults on teenage boys.

Andrew Sherry, a founder member of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), was accused of indecently assaulting one boy, under the age of 16, in the mid-1980s, and of four counts of sexual assaults on an older teenager in 2011 or 2012.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court also heard he had allegedly propositioned two other male students in the 1990s.

On Friday, 22 March, the 80-year-old was unanimously found guilty by a jury of all five counts.

The trial heard Sherry, a ninth dan black belt, founded the Red Triangle karate club in Everton, and achieved "prominence and standing" in the sport, before he retired in March 2022 after a police investigation was launched.

His defence barrister claimed the allegations were the result of a conspiracy by other practitioners who wanted to "overthrow their leader".

One complainant said he had given up a promising career in karate as a result of Sherry.

He said the sensei had asked him for "special favours" when he was aged between 12 and 16, in the mid-1980s.

Two other men, who Sherry was not charged with offences against, claimed he had propositioned them in the 1990s.

One of them told the court: "He was an inspirational teacher to me. He was my hero."

Sherry was granted bail as he was told he will be sentenced on 1 May.

Adjourning the case for a pre-sentence report, Judge David Swinnerton told him: "I have heard quite a lot about your karate career but I need to get more background information about you."