ON PERV’S 1998 INTERVIEW

David’s case and told police their stories. Bennell was convicted of abusing 12 victims last February.

Gary, 48, got in touch with David to hail him as an “inspiration”.

David, who works for amateur side AFC Fylde, contacted police after last year’s trial and was finally told of the confession. When he demanded answers, officers confirmed a decision was made not to contact the boys.

David was told: “Those who were ‘admitted’ to had not been revisited after that interview… whether or not to do so was an individual senior investigating officer decision.” The interview transcript was stored but an officer probing David’s case “did not appreciate its relevance”.

Cheshire Police accepted “this material was in its possession and these boys could and should have been contacted in 2013”.

David, training as a counsellor to help other abuse victims, said: “I fear there are a lot of people who have been abused by Bennell who will not get justice. And I can’t help but wonder wo de if he e cou could d have av got a 30-year sentence much ear earlier.

“Instead, he w was free while people like me lived with the hell of what he did to us.”

David is running run Purple Summer on June Ju 14, to help raise aw awareness of all fo forms of child

ab abuse.