Bennell ‘had hold’ on boys
FOOTBALL coach Barry Bennell had a “power hold” over his young players, an alleged sex abuse victim said yesterday.
He told a court that the youngsters who dreamed of being professional players kept quiet about being abused because they did not want to spoil their chances.
The alleged victim said he was abused many times by Bennell, who would share his double bed with two boys and play loud music while assaulting them.
Bennell, 64, denies 48 child sex offences against 11 complainants between 1979 and 1990.
The alleged victim was the first witness in his trial at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday and gave evidence from behind a screen.
He said he first met Bennell as a scout for Manchester City.
He said: “He would make you feel like you stood out, like you were special. Every boy dreamed of being a footballer, so everybody wanted to please him.”
He said not discussing the abuse was “almost like an untold rule”.
He added: “We didn’t want to spoil our chances. You knew but you didn’t say anything.
“He had a big power hold over us with that, which was pretty horrific.”
The alleged victim added that once boys started showing signs of physical maturity, they were “past their sell-by date”.
The trial continues.