Crewe’s payout to Bennell victim

CREWE have agreed to pay compensation to a victim of jailed paedophile Barry Bennell. The League Two club have performed a significant U-turn after initially fighting claims from those abused by their former youth coach. Crewe will pay a settlement to the victim and are set to do likewise to more former players. Bennell, 65, has been locked up for 31 years for crimes against 12 boys. Crewe’s move comes after Manchester City, another of Bennell’s employers, announced they would be making payments to victims. Dino Nocivelli, of law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, represents the player who is now in his 40s. He said: ‘We had to back Crewe into a corner after they used every tool at their disposal to fight this case. ‘This resulted in me having to issue court proceedings to apply pressure on them to do the right thing.’ Mr Nocivelli claims Crewe have refused to apologise to the victim. ‘That sums up their behaviour throughout,’ he said. A Crewe spokesman said: ‘The club sincerely regrets the abuse committed by Barry Bennell.’