England boxing coach Mick Driscoll found guilty of sexual assault

An England boxing coach has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman on two separate occasions in 2019.

Trainer and former light-welterweight Michael “Mick” Driscoll was convicted on two counts by a unanimous verdict at Lewes Crown Court in Brighton on Monday.

The 56-year-old was found not guilty of a third charge of sexual assault in 2019 by a majority of the jury.

Driscoll, who had denied all the accusations, will be sentenced in November.

Prosecutor Oliver Dunkin told the court the one-time Olympic hopeful had barged his way into the woman’s Brighton hotel room, pinned her to the wall and tried to kiss her.

She managed to break away, the jury heard, but he then “stripped to his underpants” and threw her onto the bed before “ripping at her nightie, trying to pull it up”.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “He jumped up and grabbed me.”

She described him as being very strong, adding: “He was slobbering all over me.”

The jury cleared Driscoll of pushing his way into the woman’s room, pinning her to the wall and trying to kiss her, but found him guilty of subsequently assaulting her.

In addition, they ruled Driscoll had groped the same woman later that year.

Mr Dunkin said: “As she walked past the defendant, he groped her around the backside and crotch area.”

He described the behaviour as “akin to the sexist misogyny you used to see in ’70s”.

During his time in the ring, Driscoll fought for the British title and narrowly missed being selected for the Seoul Olympics.

In his post-fight career he has been credited with overseeing the development of more than 100 national champions.