cops probe new footie paedophile abuse cases
More complaints raised about perv Torbett after documentary
POLICE are investigating fresh claims of child sex abuse against convicted paedophile Jim Torbett.
The Celtic Boys’ Club founder, who was originally brought to justice after a Daily Record investigation, faces new accusations of sordid behaviour after BBC Scotland spoke to alleged victims.
One man, abused decades ago, has made a formal complaint against Torbett, 69, while police are understood to have spoken to several others.
Despite the gravity of the offences and huge public interest, officers have taken the unusual step of refusing to give details of any new complaints against Torbett.
The new accusations arise from the programme Football Abuse: The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game, aired on Monday night.
One source told the Record: “The BBC’s documentary involved discussions with more than 20 men who claim they were attacked by Jim Torbett and other sexual predators while they were playing football as youngsters.
“There is every chance that further charges could be brought against him.”
After the new BBC revelations about Torbett and former Rangers and Hibs coach Gordon Neely, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan urged victims of historical child sexual abuse to come forward.
He said: “The independent review into allegations of historic child sexual abuse in Scottish football is currently under way and we await its findings.
“The latest allegations are a matter for the investigatory authority, Police Scotland.
“We would urge anyone who has suffered abuse to come forward using the dedicated, confidential NSPCC 24-hour helpline 0800 023 2642, directly to the police on 101 or via email at childrenswellbeing@ scottishfa.co.uk.”
Torbett, of Kelvindale, Glasgow, was allegedly booted out of the Boys’ Club in 1974 by Celtic boss Jock Stein over abuse claims.
But he was allowed to come back into the fold after Stein left the club in 1980 – and the BBC says many more offences agauinst boys were carried out after this time.
Torbett was jailed for two years in 1998 for abusing three former Boys’ Club players, including ex-Scotland star Alan Brazil, between 1967 and 1974. The Daily Record won an award for an investigation that helped bring Torbett to justice.
Police said yesterday: “We would not comment on whether individuals feature in an inquiry or not. We would not comment on a person making a report to police.
“Any abuse of a child will not be tolerated. Our priority is to that person, and any other persons who we establish may be at risk and, working with partners, to ensure support is in place to meet that individual’s needs.”
Torbett, who is believed to be abroad, denied the show’s fresh allegations.
He was only ever convicted for crimes committed up to 1974 – but during the programme, alleged victim Kenny Campbell claims he was abused in the 80s.
Kenny, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, moved to Celtic’s reserves in 1989 after three years with Celtic Boys’ Club.
He said: “I feel aggrieved at that if they had never let him back in, it would have f ****** never happened in the first place,
“I could have had a normal life, normal people round about me.
“If Celtic had done their due diligence as they always say. And it wouldn’t have happened to me.”
Kenny, who has fought to clean up his life after the abuse resulted in drink and drug problems, said that, after he joined Celtic Boys’ Club at 13, Torbett won the trust of his parents, even spending a Christmas Day with them.
Another victim who spoke to the BBC said Torbett abused him dozens of times over three years from 1990.
The BBC programme claims to have spoken to three other former Celtic Boys’ Club officials – there at the time – who also say they were told Torbett was sacked by Stein after complaints Torbett had abused boys. The police were never called.
It alleges that Torbett’s departure from Celtic Boys’ Club was described in club magazine The Celtic View as a business decision – amounting to a “massive cover-up”.
We wouldn’t comment on whether individuals feature in an inquiry or not POLICE SCOTLAND