86 new complainants say paedophile football coach Bennell abused them

football coach Barry Bennell may have assaulted more than 100 boys during his reign of abuse, it is feared.

Bennell (64) will be sentenced on Monday for abusing 12 boys following his latest convictions at Liverpool Crown Court for offences against youth footballers between 1979 and 1991.

But the former Crewe Alexandra coach and Manchester City scout, who has already served three jail terms for similar offences involving 16 other victims, could face further prosecution after an additional 86 complainants came forward to say they were also abused by him.

Bennell (below) has been convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of a total of 43 counts of child sex abuse against 11 victims.

Before the trial started last month he pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault, including offences involving a 12th boy.

The jury found him guilty of the final three counts of indecent assault yesterday.

A cheer of “yes” came from the public gallery, where six victims sat with family members as the final verdicts were read out. Bennell, who appeared via video-link from prison, could be seen shaking his head at times and muttering when the guilty verdicts were returned.

Outside court victim Andy Woodward, whose decision to speak out about Bennell’s abuse led to the trial, said he was proud to have helped other victims get the justice they deserved. He also demanded an apology from Crewe Alexandra.

Another victim, Micky Fallon, said Bennell had preyed on “little boys with a dream”.

He also thanked the jurors, adding: “Because of you the stolen voices of a generation have been heard.” During the trial Bennell was described as a “child molester on an industrial scale” who would groom victims and their families.

Complainants, who had been coached by Bennell as boys, told how he had a “power hold” over them as they dreamed of becoming professional footballers.

He was said to have been treated like “God” at Manchester City’s Maine Road ground.

Bennell was compared to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, luring boys to his homes, where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey.

He also abused them on trips and in his car while on the way to and from training.

In his closing speech, NichPAEDOPHILE olas Johnson QC, prosecuting, said: “We suggest Mr Bennell is a child molester on an industrial scale and that’s why he went to these lengths to get so many lads round to his house.”

His barrister, Eleanor Laws QC, described him as being a “sitting target” after being convicted of child sexual abuse in the 1990s and in 2015.

One of Bennell’s victims, who he had pleaded guilty to abusing in 1998, said he knew of four men who had been coached by Bennell, including former Wales manager Gary Speed, who had gone on to take their own lives.

The jury was later told there was no evidence to link their deaths to Bennell.