The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Paedophile may have assaulted 100 victims
Paedophile football coach Barry Bennell may have assaulted more than 100 boys during his reign of abuse, it can now be reported, after his latest trial came to an end.
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.
However, 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 too were abused by him.
Bennell 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.
Victims had been forced to describe in court the abuse they had suffered and then lived with so long.
For some people, the emotion was overwhelming and tears began to flow as the trial finally came to an end.
Bennell, who appeared via videolink from prison, could be seen shaking his head at times and muttering when the guilty verdicts were returned.
Outside court, previous 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, Steve Walters called Bennell a “disgusting predator” and criticised a “culture of complacency” in football over child protection.
In his closing speech, Nicholas Johnson QC, prosecuting, said: “We suggest Mr Bennell is a child molester on an industrial scale”.