- Ted Hankey was jailed in May 2022 over the sexual assault of a a teenage girl
- He had been caught unawares on camera while pinning a teenage girl down
- The former world champion was released in 2023, despite a two-year sentence
Former world darts champion Ted Hankey was released from prison in 2023, Mail Sport understands, despite having been handed a two-year sentence.
Hankey, now 56, was jailed for two years in May 2022 after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Chester Crown Court heard Hankey had pinned the young girl down and, with an ‘air of entitlement’, sexually assaulted his victim.
The attack occurred in Crewe, Cheshire, on September 10 2021, with the court hearing that the victim was aged between 16 and 18.
When sentencing Hankey, the judge said he would have ‘denied it to the bitter end’ if the attack had not been caught on film.
Judge Everett told him: ‘You genuinely believed nobody would believe her, until you were shown the damning evidence.
Ted Hankey was sentenced to two years in jail in May 2022, but was released in 2023
The former world darts champion, pictured arriving at Chester Crown Court in May 2022, had pleaded guilty to sexual assaulting a teenage girl in September 2021
Hankey won the BDO world title twice in his career, triumphing in 2000 and 2009
‘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.’
After being arrested on September 16 in 2021, the same day the incident was reported, Hankey had denied during questioning committing the offence.
He subsequently answered ‘no comment’ after being shown the video footage.
Upon appearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, April 14, he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault.
Hankey was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years, as well as being handed a two-year sentence.
Mail Sport understands that despite Hankey being jailed in May 2022, he was let out in 2023.
The darts player, a father of three, was reported to be in the process of being divorced by his wife at the time he was jailed.
During questioning, Hankey strongly denied the sexual assault but answered ‘no comment’ when he was shown the video evidence
Hankey, whose darts nickname is The Count, was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years when he was given a two-year sentence
Hankey was known as The Count during his playing days having arrived at games dressed as a vampire.
He first qualified for the BDO World Championship in 1998 and went on to win the prestigious event in 2000 and 2009.
Hankey also finished as the runner-up in 2001.
His net worth had been estimated at between £1million and £8m, but he was declared bankrupt in 2017 after failing to qualify for tournaments.
