Survivor of childhood sexual abuse by former swimming coach settles her claim

The survivor, who we are calling Jane, is now in her 30s and turned to abuse team partner Dino Nocivelli of law firm Leigh Day to bring a civil claim on her behalf against the local authority for the harm she had suffered as a result of Rixon’s abuse. 

Robert Rixon was a swimming coach at Porthcawl Comprehensive School and between 2000 and 2003 he sexually abused Jane – starting when she was just 11 years old.  

In 2018, Jane was finally able to inform the police of Rixon’s abuse, and after a protracted criminal investigation, in 2022, Rixon was found guilty of abusing a number of children including Jane. He was convicted on 25 charges relating to childhood sexual abuse, five of which involved Jane, and received a 25-year prison sentence. 

Rixon abused two other girls while working at Porthcawl Comprehensive and later assaulted two other girls while running a club at Heronsbridge School in Bridgend between 2013 and 2015. 

Rixon died in 2024 – with Jane only finding out through social media. 

Bridgend County Borough Council and Jane agreed a settlement for the pain and suffering that she continues to endure – which includes the cost of future therapy. Porthcawl Comprehensive School gave Jane a written apology. 

Leigh Day abuse claims partner, Dino Nocivelli, said: 

“I am incredibly pleased to have been able to reach a resolution on behalf of my client, and hope that the settlement she has agreed goes some way towards her recovery process after the appalling abuse that occurred during her childhood.”