A FORMER Olympic diving star has appeared in court accused of a catalogue of child sex abuse offences.

Brian Phelps, who won six gold medals, two silver and one bronze accolade at Olympic, Commonwealth and European Games, returned from his retirement home in France to face 43 charges.

Bournemouth magistrates heard how the 63-year-old former Poole gym owner was accused of four rape charges, 19 indecent assaults, 19 gross indecency offences and one attempted rape dating back to between 1976 and 1986.

Dressed in a beige jacket and black polo neck jumper, the grey-haired father-of-two spoke only to confirm his name and address in Le Val Besnot, France.

Bail was objected to on the grounds Phelps now lives in France and no longer has ties in England, that he might fail to surrender to custody, could interfere with witnesses and there are concerns for his personal protection. For Phelps, solicitor Mike Flynn did not make a bail application. Magistrates remanded Phelps in custody until Wednesday when he will appear at Bournemouth Crown Court.

High-diving champ Phelps, who won the senior Mr United Kingdom title in 1989, later became a TV sports commentator. A bronze medallist at the Rome games and 22 times national champion, he was drafted in to cover the Olympic events at Seoul in 1988.

The trampoline champion ran the Olga gymnasium in Parkstone before setting up the Olga trampoline club at Poole's Rossmore leisure centre.

Phelps was a finalist in the 1978 BBC Superstars competition.