Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hotel staff homes are searched
JUST TOLD TO GET COUNSELLING
BORIS Johnson is to announce the creation of 10,000 more prison places for the extra people he plans to lock up.
He has already pledged to increase police numbers, give officers more stop and search powers and to clamp down on early releases.
Tomorrow, he will hold talks with police chiefs, judges and prison bosses about ensuring criminals serve their full terms. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “The PM’s putting prisons at the heart of plans to cut crime.
“More and better prison places means less re-offending and a lower burden on the taxpayer.” Three new prisons have approval and another is planned. The first, in Wellingborough, Northants, is due to be finished in 2021. Jails are at 97% capacity, with numbers set to grow from
83,000 to 86,400 by 2023.
total of £2,200 – giving him £1,000 to help with debts, and £1,200 towards rent arrears.
In his application Russell, then 33, wrote: “I have hit financial problems, which is down to me and not being responsible with money – I have lost my way in life a little bit. I cannot get an overdraft, credit or a loan.”
Pleading his case, Russell added: “All I want to do is get on with my life and try and pay my way.”
Heath moved to Charlton after getting the sack from Chelsea.
The scout had claimed he was unfairly dismissed by the Stamford Bridge club and took it to a tribunal, which heard he “spent a lot of his time in his office, decorating and cooking meals for the schoolboy players.”
In 2016, former Chelsea player Gary Johnson, also a victim of Heath, claimed he was paid £50,000 by the club to keep quiet about his abuse.
The claims by Russell come as clubs face a backlash for failing to protect players. Claims by more than 850 alleged victims span the country, with investigations by at least 18 police forces.
Former players have told how they felt unable to report abuse at the time because they feared it would destroy their dreams of becoming professional.
In 2016, FA chief executive Martin Glenn vowed to punish any club guilty of “hushing up” historical abuse.
Ex-keeper Russell decided to speak out because he believes the PFA missed a chance to investigate Heath earlier.
He has now enlisted the help of sex abuse specialist, solicitor Dino Novicelli, as he seeks answers over his treatment.
Russell said: “I was just a child and I was groomed and exploited. Heath used my love of football to abuse me – I’ll never get over that. I hate what happened to me and the PFA did absolutely nothing. I hope the players and coaches who knew this was going on are sleeping well right now.
“I want justice for all the victims, and for those who were in power to be held responsible.” His revelations come days after Chelsea apologised “unreservedly” to former youth players aged 10 to 17 targeted by Heath in the 1970s.
A review that led to a report by Charles Geekie QC detailed the evidence of 23 witnesses – 15 said to have seen “serious and unambiguous sexual assaults”, including rape.
Meanwhile a separate inquiry by the Football Association into historical sex abuse is understood to have contacted the PFA as it began investigating the union’s involvement in the crisis. Clive Sheldon QC, heading the probe, has requested documents to explore whether they could have done more to protect youngsters.
While most clubs and football bodies have changed personnel in the years since, Taylor has been full-time at the PFA since 1980, and its chief since 1981.
He confirmed in March he would quit after an internal battle over stockpiling funds.
No date has been given for his departure.
The PFA confirmed last night: “Mr Davy contacted the PFA in 1999 initially requesting support to help manage personal debts and assistance with his tenancy agreement.
“The PFA provided direct financial and legal support to help him through a challenging time.”
I hope those who knew all this was going on are sleeping well right now RUSSELL DAVY
ON HORROR OF HOW SCANDAL WAS COVERED UP