Most of Britain’s beloved sports have been hiding an epidemic: a systemically tolerated culture of child abuse, with predators lurking behind trusted titles and shiny medals. Tony Castle, a prominent karate coach with a murky past and multiple convictions, exemplifies the horrifying gap between reputation and reality and how systemic failures let him and hundreds more remain in plain sight for decades. In this chilling investigation, Emma Webb exposes how predators exploited the very structures meant to safeguard children. Castle’s story is just one of over 500 convicted perpetrators in British sport. In early 2010, police were given a clear warning that was ignored by an ineffective system for 8 months. You will discover how the lack of a statutory safeguarding framework, voluntary codes, and ‘unfit for purpose’ police databases create a dangerous environment where predatory risk was not taken seriously. We explore how sport’s obsession with reputation enables ongoing abuse, and why the current legal and regulatory gaps are a threat to every child in the sector. But it also highlights a vital opportunity to build a future where a watertight monitoring system is hardwired into every level of child sport through statutory regulation. It’s a call to action—challenging the dark status quo and demanding protection for the children of now and tomorrow.

SUPPORT - Full Extended Support and Episode Links Can Be Found In Extended Shownotes at https://thedisruptivesurvivor.substack.com

https://www.bravemovement.org/help — UK and International Support - Follow the link and Select your Country for specific support details

For Child and Youth Support: Childline: 0800 1111

Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/ Call free on 116 123.

Survivors Trust: 08088 010 818 https://thesurvivorstrust.org/act-on-iicsa/

National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC): Freephone: 0808 801 0331 . Email: [email protected]. Website: http://napac.org.uk/

NSPCC: Freephone: 0808 800 5000. Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

To report a criminal offence:
In an emergency, always call 999.
Non-urgent: call local police on 101.
Crimestoppers (anonymous): Freephone 0800 555 111. Website: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/

Website: neverhistoric.com

Book: Historic: The True Legacy of Childhood Sport — available now on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Historic-Legacy-Childhood-Sport-Parent-ebook/dp/B0FPGRB9MW

© Emma Webb 2026. All rights reserved.