My coach sexually abused me at 13, I thought our special sessions were to help me but they were for her twisted desires
WHEN Nia Durant was taking under the wing of her cheerleading coach she had never felt more special.
Desperate to succeed in the squad Nia, now 27, was more than happy to help coach the younger students by Rosana Awan.
But a nightmare was just beginning – as she became easy pickings for a ‘predatory’ teacher who preyed on the talented young sportswoman.
Nia went on to endure years of sexual abuse at the hands of her coach and feared she would get in trouble if she told anyone about the “favouritism” she was accused of receiving.
According to a report from The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) out of 3,939 participants 78 people reported experiencing sexual abuse in a sports context and of those – 91% reported being sexually abused by a sports coach or volunteer.
Now Nia has bravely waived her right to anonymity to “shine a light” on this abuse in sport – especially when it’s “female-on-female” which she feels is less reported.
Nia, 27, from Leicester, East Midlands, says: “I’d always loved sports and gymnastics – I was so excited to join the team.
“I signed up to the local cheerleading group aged 13 in 2010.
“A few weeks into practice my coach Awan asked me if I wanted to come early and stay late to plan lessons with her, offering me the chance to help the younger students.
“I was so happy to be picked – and it all felt very innocent at first.
“She even told my parents about it.
“Looking back, that was her gateway into getting to know me.”
Awan began offering Nia lifts home after practice – which Nia attended three or four times a week.
While they started out innocently with Awan pulling over to discuss practice with Nia, they soon took a sinister turn.
Nia explains: “She started touching me over my clothes.
“I was very naïve and didn’t know about any of that stuff.
“I was really confused about it to start with, but at the same time, she kept reassuring me it was all ‘normal’.”
This continued for a couple of months until it “progressed” and Awan began to sexually abuse her under her clothes, too.
The abuse continued when the cheerleading team travelled for competitions and Awan would book them a hotel room together.
Nia says: “She would give the hotel a fake name for me, so no one knew I was staying with her, and then we would share a bed.
“I kept quiet about it because she told me the others would be ‘jealous’ of me.
“I was getting favouritism and it made me feel special.
“She also made it out like I would be the one who would get in trouble if anyone found out.”
Over the next few years, Nia became increasingly isolated from friends and family.
She struggled with her mental health and didn’t know who to turn to about the abuse.
“Because I coached for her, I didn’t want to jeopardise my job, either,” she says.
“I made a new friend at cheerleading and coach wasn’t happy about it.
“I was searching for reasons why I wouldn’t be allowed to have friends and I didn’t understand.
“I started to realise you don’t hide your relationships and this is wrong.”
It’s now taking its toll and I still feel a lot of guilt – even though I shouldn’t
Nia Durant
In 2013, Nia’s parents grew concerned and contacted police to report Awan, after finding a diary Nia had written about the abuse.
However, Nia was “too scared” to tell the truth, and insisted “nothing happened”, and the case wasn’t pursued.
According the Leicestershire Police, Awan did admit to “kissing” Nia, and was given a “conditional caution”.
In 2017, Nia got into De Montfort University in her hometown, Leicester, and began studying for an education degree.
While learning about safeguarding, she says the pieces “fell into place” and she understood that she had been abused.
In 2018, Nia told the police she wanted to reopen the original report made in 2013, and she spoke with an officer April 2019.
Awan was arrested a month later, and charged in February 2020 with five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
Nia says: “I felt like it wasn’t taken seriously to begin with due to the female on female nature.
“One officer even suggested that her actions were ‘motherly’ and ‘being a good coach’, rather than abuse.
“But I can’t fault the female officer who helped me.
How to report a sexual assault
- Contact a doctor or practice nurse at your GP surgery.
- Contact a voluntary organisation, such as Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trust or Male Survivors Partnership.
- Call the 24-hour freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247.
- Speak to the rape and sexual abuse support line run by Rape Crisis England and Wales – you can call the helpline on 0808 500 2222 or use the online chat (both are free and are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year).
“She saw the severity of it and it was the first time I finally felt heard and listened to.”
Awan pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The case eventually went to Leicester Crown Court in October 2024 where she was found guilty of four counts of sexual abuse with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
She was found not guilty on one count of sexual activity with a child.
She was sentenced at the same court to 10 years in prison in December 2024, and also made the subject of a 10-year restraining order and a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. She will be a registered sex offender for life.
Nia adds: “I was really thankful for the guilty verdict.
“It confirmed everything – it wasn’t all in my head.
“I read out an impact statement and didn’t use a screen – I wanted her to see me.
“I got the final say.
“The sentencing was a big win and I felt validated.
It’s scary to put myself out there, but I hope this can help just one other person feel heard
Nia Durant
“But it’s now taking its toll and I still feel a lot of guilt – even though I shouldn’t.
“I do think there’s not enough support for victims because the court process is awful.
“It’s scary to put myself out there, but I hope this can help just one other person feel heard.”
When approached for a comment, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Constabulary said: “In 2013, the complainant’s parents made a report of sexual abuse to the police on her behalf.
“When an investigation began, the complainant told police nothing had happened between herself and Awan.
“It was later established that the complainant told police nothing had happened as she had been put under pressure by Awan.
“Awan did admit kissing the complainant and was issued with a conditional caution.
“In August 2018, the complainant told police she wanted the report that was made in 2013 to be reopened.
“The force understands the victim was frustrated by the fact the case was adjourned on several occasions due to lack of court space.
“However, both the officer in the case and her supervisor maintained a positive relationship with the victim in the case and have been thanked by her for their efforts in ensuring Awan was convicted of her crimes.”
When asked about the terms Nia claimed were used to describe Awan’s actions, including “motherly” and “being a good coach”, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: “The force does not have any record of the officer using those terms to describe Awan’s behaviour.”