14/10/2025
A man from south Manchester has been charged with several sex offences.
Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl (28/01/60) has been charged with:
- 5 counts of sexual assault on a child
- 2 counts of sexual assault on a female
- 2 counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity
- 1 count of causing a female to engage in sexual activity
- 2 counts of rape of a child
- 2 counts of rape of a female
- 2 counts of assault by penetration of a child
- 2 counts of assault by penetration of a female
- 1 count of controlling and coercive behaviour
These charges relate to alleged offences against one female between 2012 and 2024 and have been brought following an investigation by our Major Incident Team.
He will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 14 October 2025.
14 October 2025
Former British Olympic athletics coach Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl has appeared in court after being accused of child sex offences.
Leiva-Modahl, 65 – who was previously married to former Olympic middle-distance runner Diane Modahl – is facing 19 separate charges including sexual assault of a child, rape and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Leiva-Modahl, who is also known as Vicente Modahl, appeared from custody at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for a 15-minute hearing in which no pleas were indicated.
District judge Richard Jepson sent the case to Manchester Crown Court, telling Leiva-Modahl that some of the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at the magistrates’ court.
Leiva-Modahl was granted conditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on 18 November.
Among his bail conditions were to reside at an address in the Warrington area, to abide by an electronic monitoring curfew from 21:00 to 07:00 and not to contact witnesses in the case.
He was also ordered to surrender his Spanish passport and not to have any unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18.
Leiva-Modahl has been suspended by governing body UK Athletics, the court also heard.