Youth coach able to work on for years after abuse claims
A SUSPECTED paedophile was allowed to continue working in football for several years after being reported to the police and the Scottish Football Association.
Youth coach and referee Hugh Stevenson, who died in 2004, has been accused of a series of child sex offences.
Pete Haynes, 50, said he was repeatedly abused by Stevenson over a three to four-year period from 1979 and reported the allegations to police in 1993.
But it has now emerged Stevenson continued to coach youth football for several years after the alarm was raised, including with Paisley-based Ferguslie United and Cowdenbeath, in Fife.
Kevin Hutchison, 39, played with Ferguslie United from 1993-1995 and confirmed that Stevenson was one of the coaches.
Mr Hutchison said he had not been the victim of any abuse from Stevenson but has now realised the coach was allowed to continue in football after allegations had been made.
He told the BBC: ‘Hugh also had an unofficial capacity with Cowdenbeath youth team, where he would scout players.
‘He had full access to the changing rooms, again in 1993-1995, possibly 1996.
‘To anyone observing, you would have thought he was part of the coaching staff.’
Mr Hutchison said Stevenson had an official Cowdenbeath jacket.
He added: ‘He’d regularly transport boys around the country.
‘I find it abhorrent that Hugh Stevenson was allowed to coach and manage youth football in the very same years that Pete Haynes came forward to the SFA and the police.’
Police Scotland has confirmed the former Strathclyde Police investigated Stevenson in 1993 and again in 1996.
The Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) has apologised to Mr Haynes, who said he was never told of the outcome of his allegations.
On Monday, Mitch Agnew, who was part of the Ferguslie United coaching set-up in the 1990s and is a long-serving senior figure in the SYFA, was suspended pending an investigation.
It is understood that the SYFA, which is an affiliate of the SFA and based at Hampden Park, suspended him from his position while it investigates whether any abuse allegations concerning Stevenson were properly handled.
In a statement, Mr Agnew denied ever being made aware of any allegations about Stevenson.
He said: ‘There has been no attempt by me to mislead anyone. When asked about something that is alleged to have happened over 20 years ago, timescale is difficult. Hugh Stevenson was not a member of the age group I was involved in.
‘I was not informed of any investigation by police and had I been informed would have assisted them with their inquiries and would have asked him to leave the club.’
In a statement Stewart Regan, chief executive of the SFA, said: ‘Since the Scottish FA launched its confidential hotline in partnership with NSPCC and PFA Scotland, we have worked to ensure all disclosures are handled appropriately and delivered to Police Scotland.
‘We can also confirm that we have been informed by the Scottish Youth FA that it has suspended a member of its staff.’
Detective Chief Superintendent Lesley Boal, head of public protection at Police Scotland, said: ‘Searching records held by legacy forces, many of which are not held electronically, can be a lengthy and challenging process and it is not always possible to quickly confirm details of previous policing activity which may in some instances date back decades.
‘Police Scotland is continuing to receive information and reports about non-recent child sexual abuse in football through a number of routes, including the NSPCC helpline.’
Its comes as Motherwell Football Club called in police after launching an internal investigation into possible historic child sex abuse.
‘Abhorrent he was allowed to coach’