AT least 60 young girls are feared to have been sexually abused by a top gymnastics coach.
Lawyers are now planning to sue British Gymnastics over the shocking claims.
A whistle-blower known as Emma says she was raped aged eight in the mid-1970s by Olympic diver Brian Phelps at the BG-affiliated trampolining gym he ran with his wife Monica.
Barrister Bruce Drummond, who represents sex abuse victims of Mohamed Fayed, said: “This is a horrific case — and it is vast.
“One brave lady stood up and she has been contacted by dozens of survivors.
“We have been told there are at least 60 victims.
“It is a huge and very serious breach of trust. We are looking to get some justice for these women who have suffered such horrendous ordeals.”
Phelps, who won a bronze at the 1960 Rome Olympics, set up his gym in Poole, Dorset, after his diving career ended.
He was jailed in 2008, aged 64, after admitting historical indecent assaults against three children aged between six and 15.
He served six years and is understood to now live in France.
British Gymnastics said: “Abuse of any kind has absolutely no place in gymnastics.
“We are truly sorry for any abuse in our sport.”
RACHEL Reeves has been urged by experts to ditch the crippling workers’ rights red tape or kiss goodbye to growth by the end of the decade.
The Chancellor is facing calls to abandon extra bureacucracy such as greater protections on the first day of employment and easier for unions to gain workplace recognition.
The reforms, led by deputy PM Angela Rayner, have been heavily criticised by business over changes including sick pay and zero-hours contracts with the government analysis saying it could cost firms £5 billion a year.
It comes as the Chancellor also comes under pressure to reduce corporation tax – as she battles a new freebie row after taking tickets to watch Espresso hit maker Sabrina Carpenter.
But the Growth Commission is calling on Ministers to rip up the workplace proposals which will cause “untold and unseen damage” by the extra burdens for business.
Expert Shanker Singham said: “The government should scrap its Employment Rights Bill which will pile additional burdens and costs onto already hard-pressed businesses.
“However well-intentioned, a law making it harder to fire people will also make it harder for small companies to hire the right people in the first place.
“Many small businesses will simply not be able to afford the demands of the Bill, which will likely lead to firms going under, in yet another blow for the economy.
“British workers’ rights are already good by international standards, and indeed surpass many of our global competitors in faster growing markets such as the US.
“The Government risks making the UK a relatively more unattractive place to build a business and create jobs.”
The rise in the national living wage will also cost business dear with changes coming in at the start of next month.
For workers over the age of 21, the rate will rise from £11.44 to £12.21 which is more than two thirds of median income.
But Lord Moynihan said the knock on effects will be “the people who suffer are young people”.
He added: “It cements someone in their job if they already have it but it makes it very, very unattractive for an employer to hire a new person.”
Leading experts are also demanding Ms Reeves reduce corporation tax from its current rate of 25 per cent to just 21 per cent to make Britain more competitive.
The rate was set at 19 per cent between 2017 and 2022 but has been at 25 per cent since 2023.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer appeared to back his Chancellor over her taking free tickets to watch Espresso hitmaker Sabrina Carpenter.
Number 10 said the PM “supports all of his ministers making their own judgments” over hospitality and whether she had made the right decision.
MARRIED At First Sight Australia star Jacqui ends up ruining a new couple’s wedding day when she has one almighty meltdown.
Jacqui and Ryan have had a tumultuous relationship from the get go – leaving the group and the experts equally baffled by their constant “flip flopping” and inconsistency.
In a preview clip ahead of tomorrow night’s episode, a new couple join the experiment but things quickly go awry when Jacqui and Ryan have a fiery row at the wedding reception in front of all the guests.
Each year, intruder brides and grooms are welcomed to the experiment as they join the show at a later stage, while some of the original couples join the newbies in celebrating on their big day.
Jacqui and Ryan air their dirty laundry at the dinner table, with the bride asking: “Why was I crying this morning?”
Fellow contestant Rhi told her: “You cry if there’s not a full length mirror in the room.”
A hysterical Jacqui then broke down in tears, turning the new couple’s dream day into a nightmare.
Jacqui is then seem storming off as she sobs and tells husband Ryan: “I can’t deal with you.”
A tearful Jacqui screams: “You’re so deflective.”
Awhina tries to shut her down by saying: “Jacqui, it’s not your wedding,” as she proceeds to walk away.
Ryan tells the camera: “Today is not about us.”
In tonight’s episode, Jacqui and Ryan left the group squirming after he almost cried over his ‘future son’.
In bizarre scenes, Ryan was left holding back tears as he spoke about his imaginary child at the latest Commitment Ceremony.
Ryan and his wife Jacqui Burfoot were ‘flip-flopping’ over whether they actually want to be together when the conversation turned to kids.
Jacqui told the experts: “It’s not about me. I think about my children.
“So I don’t need the validation, I need it for my children. I’m happy with how I look, I’m happy with who I am as a person but I don’t want to necessarily be in the energy of someone who doesn’t do that for my children one day.”
Self-proclaimed warrior Ryan replied: “I take your point that there are times down the road, a long way down the road, where those days will be critical to everyone’s self-esteem, everyone’s progress and everyone’s general harmony in the household.
” So, you’re going to get that validation from me. Especially my son. When he comes round.”
Ryan then took a deep breath, raised his fist to his mouth and held back tears.
The rest of the MAFS Australia newlyweds were seen squirming during the weird conversation, while fans at home were also baffled.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one viewer said: “Tf is he crying about? You don’t even have a son yet.”
Another added: “Is Ryan tearing up over his hypothetical, future son? What is happening?!”
And a third chimed in: “‘You’re gonna get that validation for me … especially my son.’ What the f*** is going on?! These two are THE. MADDEST. pair I’ve seen!!!”
