Olympic swim coach bailed on sex offences has ‘months to live’
Legendary swimming coach Dick Caine granted bail over child sexual assault offences has just six months to live, court told.
Former Olympic swimming coach Dick Caine has left Bankstown police station after being granted bail after he was charged with historical child sex abuse allegations.
Appearing before Bankstown Local Court, the court heard the 76-year-old is currently a palliative care patient and has six months to live as he suffers terminal lung and throat cancer.
On Wednesday, the 76-year-old was charged with six counts of “carnal knowledge teacher of girl aged 10-17 years” and three counts of “assault female and commit act of indecency”.
Caine, who claims to have coached 19 Olympic world champions and 60 national champions, was arrested at his Condell Park home just after 7am on Wednesday morning following an investigation by police, which began over a year ago.
Breaking: Renowned swim coach Dick Caine has left Bankstown police station after being granted bail after he was charged with historical child sexual abuse allegations.
— Liam Mendes (@liammendes) June 22, 2022
Full story: https://t.co/WscjKcPjmPpic.twitter.com/dLuBLDld6R
On his website, Caine claims to have trained athletes such as Michelle Ford, Suzie Maroney and Janelle Elford; triathletes Michellie Jones, Greg Welch and Chris McCormack; Wallaby Phil Kearns; and boxers Jeff Fenech and Anthony Mundine.
Appearing before the court on Thursday afternoon via video link from Bankstown police station, the swimming coach of more than 50 years was represented by high-profile lawyer Bryan Wrench, who said his client had “serious mental health issues” and denied the allegations to police when interviewed in 2021 and this year.
His wife, Jenny Caine, 64, was called before magistrate to explain his extensive medical issues.
“He has strokes, he’s got cancer of the lung, cancer of the throat,” Ms Caine said. “He has seizures, he has heart problems, he has a pacemaker,” she said.
The court heard he has six months to live, is a palliative care unit at Bankstown Hospital and has depression. “He doesn’t go anywhere,” Ms Caine said.
Police established Strike Force Coco in January last year after receiving information “about multiple sexual and indecent assaults of a teenage girl” at Caine’s swimming school at Carss Park Swimming Pool in the 1970s. In a statement, police said they received further information about additional sex abuse incidents involving another teenage girl at the same swimming school.
“Police will allege in court that the man indecently and sexually assaulted two girls – when they were aged 15-16 – on a number of occasions in the mid-1970s while they were under his authority as a swimming coach,” police said in a statement.
After he was granted bail, lawyer Bryan Wrench said outside court he would be seeking that the prosecution withdraw the matter. “Today, NSW Police have charged an innocent man, a terminally ill man, for an offence that occurred 46 years ago,” Mr Wrench said. “He is going to die, and going to fight to the dying last breath to clear his name.”
On Wednesday morning, Kings Cross Police Area Commander Acting Superintendent Chris Nicholson said the alleged victims, aged 15 and 16, were sexually abused over a 18-month period.
“I would like to acknowledge the courage and bravery of the victims who have come forward in relation to this matter,” Supt Nicholson said on Wednesday.
“It is never easy for a victim of sexual violence to come forward and tell their story to police.”
“Standing here today I would like to say, to all victims of sexual abuse living in our community, that the NSW Police Force wants to listen to your story.”
A woman at his Condell Park home did not respond to questions from The Australian on Wednesday afternoon
The magistrate granted bail in the “highly unusual case”, with $10,000 surety and that he reside at his Condell Park address.
The matter will return to Sutherland Local Court on August 2.
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