Ted Hankey, 54, nicknamed "The Count", pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, but the judge told him he would have continued denying the offence if it had not been caught on film
Thursday 12 May 2022 14:17, UK
Former darts world champion Ted Hankey has been jailed for two years for sexually assaulting a woman.
The 54-year-old pinned the young woman down and sexually assaulted her with an "air of entitlement", Chester Crown Court heard.
Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, said Hankey would have continued denying the offence "to the bitter end" if the attack had not been caught on film.
The court was told the two-time darts world champion had "flatly denied" any wrongdoing and "expressed amazement" at the allegation when he was first arrested.
However, he stopped talking and refused to answer any more questions when detectives told him the attack had been caught on camera.
Simon Parry, prosecuting the defendant, said: "He flatly denied any wrongdoing, expressing amazement he had been arrested and did not know why she was saying what she had, saying 'Why would I do that?'."
The footage was played to the judge after the courtroom had been cleared of public and press.
Hankey, of Stoke-on-Trent, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of sexual assault on 10 September last year in Crewe, Cheshire.
Passing sentence, Judge Everett told him: "You genuinely believed nobody would believe her, until you were shown the damning evidence.
"The nature of what you did, the fact that you pinned her down, that air of entitlement... You treated her as an object for your own disgusting and deviant sexual desires.
"Your self-pity about the loss of status and ability to earn money - I'm sure you will never play darts again on television."
Victim has 'developed PTSD'
A victim impact statement was also read to the court, which described how the woman now suffers continuing distress and panic attacks.
She added: "As a result of this crime I believe I have developed PTSD.
"This crime has had a major impact on my mental health. I'm very distrusting of males. I find it very difficult to have any physical contact with others."
Mark Connor, defending, asked for a suspended jail sentence, saying the assault was "opportunist" and that Hankey had admitted the offence and wanted to apologise for his behaviour.
But Judge Everett responded: "He would have denied it to the bitter end had it not been filmed."
Nicknamed "The Count", Hankey won the BDO World Championship in 2000 and 2009.
His wife is now divorcing him and his children do not want any contact either, the court heard.
