ARREST IN SEX ABUSE CASE

10:40am Friday 18th January 2008

THE brother of a former Olympic diving star, who has appeared in court on child sex abuse charges, has also been arrested.

A former Poole gym owner, John Phelps, 55, was quizzed by detectives investigating "historical" sex abuse allegations.

He has now been released on police bail while investigations continue.

His arrest comes just eight days after his elder brother Brian, 63, who also ran a gym in Poole, appeared before Bournemouth magistrates to face 43 charges.

High-diving champion Brian Phelps was accused of four rape charges, 19 indecent assaults, 19 gross indecency offences and one attempted rape dating back to between 1976 and 1986.

Brian Phelps, who won six gold medals, two silver and one bronze accolade at Olympic, Commonwealth and European Games, is due to appear before Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday.

Magistrates heard how Brian Phelps had returned from his retirement home in France to face the charges.

Prosecutors objected to bail and he was remanded in custody.

Trampoline champion Brian Phelps, a finalist in the 1978 Superstars competition, ran the Olga gymnasium in Parkstone before setting up the Olga trampoline club at Poole's Rossmore leisure centre.

Now the spotlight has fallen on his brother; a former bodybuilder and weightlifter, who ran Shapes fitness club and body building centre in Poole with his wife Rosie.

The super-fit former Olympic squad canoeist and sprint race canoeist was arrested in Poole on Thursday morning.