Disgraced Chelsea coach Graham Rix begged to be allowed to rebuild his life after being released from prison today after spending six months behind bars for having unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl. The former Arsenal and England star was taken out of Wandsworth Prison, south London, past waiting reporters and photographers who did not catch a glimpse of him.
But Rix, in a statement issued through his agent Dennis Roach, told PA, “This last six months has been extremely difficult for me. During the period I have been well and fairly treated and would sincerely thank those friends and people in football whose letters and support have kept me going through the most difficult period of my life. I made a serious mistake, for which I have been punished, so now with the help and support of Chelsea Football Club I want to get back to my work and re-build the remainder of my life. I would appreciate being given that chance”.
Police arrived outside the prison at about 6.15am and left 45 minutes later, saying he had gone. Sergeant Nigel Nelson said, “He has definitely left the prison, and gone to Chelsea football club, where we have been told he is having a press conference this afternoon”.
Rix, 41, served half of the 12-month sentence handed down at Knightsbridge
Crown Court in March. The father-of-four, from Richmond, Southwest London, had pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sex and one of indecent assault, committed on two separate occasions early last year.
The court heard that he had sexual intercourse with the girl, who was a virgin, in his London hotel room on the eve of a Chelsea Premiership match with Manchester United. Shortly after the sentence was passed, Chelsea announced that Rix, who was capped for England 17 times and is regarded as one of the country's top coaches, would not lose his job.
The judge told him that he would have to remain on the sex offenders' register for the next 10 years.
