Pre-sentencing proceedings for former KZN triathlon coach Justin James Hand have been scheduled for August after he pleaded guilty to statutory rape and sexual grooming of a child in the Durban Regional Court.

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Hand entered guilty pleas to both charges on June 25, admitting to offences committed between 2022 and November 2023 while the complainant was aged between 14 and 15 years old.

In a statement made to the court, Hand admitted he was the complainant’s private triathlon coach during 2022 and 2023 and that they developed a relationship while he was coaching her.

Hand further admitted that, knowing the complainant was under the age of 16, he requested explicit photographs from her, engaged in sexually explicit video calls, and had sexual intercourse with her at his Morningside residence in November 2023.

He also admitted to conduct amounting to sexual grooming.

The defence successfully applied for the matter to be postponed to allow for the compilation of a Correctional Supervision report, a Clinical Psychologist’s report and the presentation of additional evidence in mitigation of sentence.

The matter was postponed to August 27 for the filing of the pre-sentence reports, after which a sentencing date will be determined.

The identity of the complainant remains protected by a court-ordered non-disclosure order, which remains in force despite her now being over the age of 18.

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