A former Hampshire tennis champion has escaped imprisonment after admitting sexual assault charges involving a teenage girl, receiving a suspended sentence at Portsmouth Crown Court for offences spanning an 18-month period.
Aaronn Blackman, 27, from Denmead, avoided custody when he appeared before the court for offending against a girl between April 2016 and September 2017.
The defendant pleaded guilty to two charges of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with a girl aged 14-15 in Waterlooville during this timeframe. Blackman, who was between 18 and 20 years old when the offences occurred, also admitted to engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with the same victim1.
Tennis Career Background
Blackman, of Martin Avenue, was a respected tennis player and coach at Denmead Tennis Club. He secured the Hampshire & IOW Lawn Tennis Association’s inaugural mixed doubles Champion of Champions trophy in 2018, alongside winning the East Hampshire Mixed League that same year.
The former promising player previously competed as part of Denmead’s top doubles pairing in the Portsmouth & District League. He achieved a world ranking peak of seventh position in 2018 as a touch tennis competitor – a sport played on reduced-size courts using foam balls and smaller racquets.
Blackman had previously been characterised as an “excellent role model to youngsters” whom he coached at Denmead.
Court Proceedings
The penetrative charge stated: “You being a person aged 18 or over, intentionally touched a girl aged 14-15, not reasonably believing she was 16 or over, and the touching being sexual and involving penetration”.
At the hearing, Blackman received a 19-month prison sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 26 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work. He must register as a sex offender for 10 years.
