Duke believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl, but instead, he had been communicating with members of the Child Online Safety Team who then reported him He won gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympics

A British Paralympic gold medallist has avoided prison after being caught in an online operation by paedophile hunters. Gareth Duke received a six-month sentence at Newport Crown Court, suspended for 18 months. He must also sign the sex offenders register and comply with a seven-year sexual harm prevention order.

Duke, who has a genetic disorder called achondroplasia, won gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympics and silver at Beijing 2008 before retiring in 2011 after complications from a kidney transplant.

The court heard that Duke believed he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl name

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