Football coach’s 36 sex attacks
‘Child Catcher’ Bennell preyed on boys
SERIAL paedophile Barry Bennell was convicted yesterday of abusing young footballers after telling them he could fulfil their dreams of a career in the sport.
The 64-year-old, who has previously been jailed three times for similar offences, was found guilty of 36 sex charges against more victims.
Liverpool Crown Court heard him described as a “child molester on an industrial scale” like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Victims who were coached by Bennell as boys told how he had a “power hold” over them as they dreamed of becoming professional footballers.
The court heard he was treated like God at Manchester City’s Maine Road ground.
He abused the boys at his homes – where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey – and on trips away and in his car while on the way to and from training.
A victim who he admitted abusing in 1998 said he knew of four men coached by Bennell who went on to take their own lives, including former Wales manager Gary Speed.
The jury were told there was no evidence to link the deaths to Bennell, who appeared in court via videolink for health reasons and declined to give evidence in his own defence.
The court heard transcripts of police interviews where he admitted having a “grooming process” and being attracted to teenage boys.
But he denied the new allegations and said his accusers were “jumping on the bandwagon” following publicity.
Eleanor Laws QC, defending, described Bennell as being a “sitting target” after being convicted of child sexual abuse in the 1990s and in 2015.
She said: “The defendant is a known target and he coached these boys.
“They know that when making allegations, whether truthful or not, they are making allegations against a convicted paedophile.”