Probe launched as England Boxing faces scrutiny over coaches with criminal histories

An investigation by the Daily Mail has found that England Boxing has allowed individuals with serious criminal histories to mentor and officiate the sport’s young hopefuls, prompting a formal inquiry by Sport England, the government body that funds the sport. The revelations have raised questions about safeguarding practices within England Boxing and the safeguards around vetting and removal decisions for officials and coaches.

England Boxing requires an enhanced DBS check for all coaches and officials, renewed every three years. However, whistleblowers say decisions to exclude individuals with convictions are often made by a small internal panel, rather than through independent or external oversight, leaving safeguarding outcomes potentially susceptible to internal influence. England Boxing declined to comment when approached by the Mail, while Sport England described the allegations as “very serious” and said it is in touch with the governing body as it weighs next steps.

Among those identified by the Mail are several figures with entrenched criminal or disciplinary histories who have held coaching or officiating roles within England Boxing. Paul Rosendale, a referee, was expelled from the British Army for sexual offences before becoming affiliated with boxing. Rosendale’s conduct at England Boxing events included pressuring a female colleague for a threesome, and he was suspended for ten weeks in 2023 after admitting to sending messages seeking a threesome. The disciplinary panel noted his attitude toward women but ultimately did not find it necessary to impose a broader sanction, and he has since been permanently suspended for disciplinary reasons, with details of the basis for the ban not disclosed.

Brian Alvin Finch, another referee, was found to have sexually assaulted a female boxing official during a National Amateur Championships trip in 2023. The incident occurred in a hotel lobby in Newcastle upon Tyne, in full view of witnesses who stated he groped the victim without consent. He was given a three-month ban, but because he had been suspended for several months while disciplinary proceedings were pending, he was allowed to return to the sport immediately as a referee. England Boxing publicly acknowledged his long service in the sport, describing him as a man of “good character” and noting the conduct as a “momentary lapse in judgment.”

Ritchie Fox, founder of the Ashfield Spartans Boxing Club in Nottinghamshire, is a convicted stalker who served more than six years in prison for a campaign of harassment against his ex-partner. Fox, who remains involved in boxing, was recently nominated as Boxing England’s coach of the year, a development that has drawn scrutiny over the organization’s assessment of past offences in a coach’s background.

Sean Martin, a coach at Kings Amateur Boxing Club in Cheltenham, has a lengthy criminal record with 26 convictions across 68 offences. He faced assault charges in 2019 after felled a man with a punch delivered from behind, an episode described by the court as “utterly cowardly.” He remains in his coaching role, and in a Gloucestershire Live interview he said he remains in contact with England Boxing and that “you’ve got to abide by their rules.” The persistence of such cases has sparked debate about how governance and welfare policies are applied at the club level.

Mick Driscoll, another England Boxing coach, was found guilty in 2019 of two counts of sexual assault against the same woman, including forcing his way into a hotel room and pinning the victim to a wall before assaulting her. He was later dismissed by England Boxing following a series of allegations, but the case has intensified scrutiny of how England Boxing handles safeguarding issues involving high-performing coaches.

Whistleblowers say the lack of clear, independent safeguarding processes allows individuals who may pose risks to slip through the cracks. They also note that multiple coaches and members are awaiting trial for sex offences, and that at least nine additional coaches, including Quinton Shillingford—who has coached Boxing GB and England fighters and has been awarded an MBE for services to boxing—are currently suspended pending safeguarding inquiries.

Dr James Newman, a sport and exercise psychologist at Sheffield Hallam University who specializes in safeguarding, said the Mail’s findings reflect ongoing maltreatment and abuse concerns in sport. He described a continuation of harmful norms in sport and argued that broader cultural and systemic changes are needed to create a physically and psychologically safe environment for victims. He cautioned that allegations within any sport may indicate deeper welfare failures at the individual, organizational and systemic levels.

A spokesperson for Sport England said the allegations are very serious and encouraged anyone with concerns to report illegal activity to the police. Sport England added that it is in contact with England Boxing over the matter as it reviews safeguarding and governance practices within the sport.

The latest disclosures come amid ongoing scrutiny of how England Boxing handles safeguarding and lawyer- or external-led oversight, and as lawmakers and sports bodies consider reforms intended to strengthen protections for vulnerable participants. In the coming months, the sport could face further developments as investigations progress and additional disclosures emerge about safeguarding measures, background checks, and the governance decisions surrounding affiliated officials and coaches.