Gjert Ingebrigtsen, the father of Olympic champion runner Jakob Ingebrigtsen, has avoided jail after being found guilty of hitting his daughter. The 59-year-old had been accused of physically abusing Jakob and his younger sister Ingrid during their childhood. He coached Jakub to Olympic gold over 1,500 metres in 2021 before they parted ways the following year.
The trial, which has sent shockwaves around the sporting world, came to a climax on Monday as Gjert was conviced of hitting Ingrid with a wet towel during an argument in 2022. He was handed a 15-day suspended sentence, meaning he will not be spending time in jail. Ingrid, who is 19 but left the family home aged 15, was awarded 10,000 kroner (£744) in compensation by the court.
Despite being found guilty of hitting Ingrid, Gjert was cleared of abusing Jakob. The court announced there was insufficient evidence to support the latter’s claims that his father had overseen a childhood marked by fear, violence and threats.
The court said: “Jakob shows no signs of fear or submission in relation to the defendant.He stands his ground and retaliates against the defendant’s verbal abuse.
“Violence in close relationships can occur in secret and remain hidden from the outside world. However, the explanations and recordings reviewed in the preceding paragraphs are difficult to reconcile with the prosecution’s claim that the defendant subjected Jakob to continuous and repeated abuse throughout the period from 2008 to 2018.
“Even though Jakob and his brothers and spouses have given credible statements, the total weight of the statements and other evidence reviewed means that the court must conclude that there is reasonable doubt about the defendant’s guilt.”
MORE TO FOLLOW
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures, and video on this breaking news story.
Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @DExpress_Sport – the official Daily Express & Express.co.uk Twitter account – providing real news in real-time.
We’re also on Facebook @DailyExpressSport – offering your must-see news, features, videos, and pictures throughout the day to like, comment, and share from the Daily Express, Sunday Express, and Express.co.uk.
