Former Crewe Alexandra football scout jailed for indecent assault on 12-year-old child

A FORMER football scout with connections to Crewe Alexandra and Stoke City has been jailed for indecently assaulting a young boy in the 1980s

Barry Bennell, from Milton Keynes, received a two-year custodial sentence when he appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday May 8.

The 61-year-old had previously pleaded guilty under his other name of Richard Jones to two counts of indecent assault on a male, and two counts of enticing a boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.

The incidents took place over a two-night period at Bennell's home in April 1980.

The victim - a 12-year-old boy at the time - had travelled to Macclesfield from his home in Lancashire to attend a soccer skills course he was helping to run.

He had invited the victim to attend after befriending him and his family at a holiday camp in Wales the year before.

He had offered to let the boy stay over at his home for two nights rather than him having to travel back and forth each day. It was there that he indecently assaulted the youngster on two occasions.

The victim did not disclose what happened at the time – but decided to come forward in 2013.

Following an investigation into the incident Bennell – who was employed by Crewe Alexandra in the 1980s – was charged by Cheshire Police.

Bennell also had close links as a coach with current Premier League champions Manchester City, and also recommended players to Leeds United and Stoke City.

This is not the first time Bennell has appeared at the court charged with sexual offences against children.

The Sentinel reported in June 1998, that Bennell, who formerly lived in Rode Heath and Crewe, was sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting 23 charges of indecent assault, two charges of a serious sexual offence and two charges of attempted serious sexual assault spanning a 13-year period.

At the earlier court case the prosecution outlined 45 separate assaults on a string of young boys aged between 10 and 14.

They began in 1979, when Bennell worked as a residential care worker in a children's home in Derbyshire, continued through the 1980s when he was a coach and scout at Crewe Alexandra, Stoke City and Manchester City to 1992, two years before he was arrested in Florida on sex charges.

DC Alison Greenwood, who led the investigation, said: "Bennell befriended a young boy and his family with the promise of helping to improve his footballing skills.

"He had clearly made a big impression on them all and the young boy was excited at the prospect of being able to attend the football skills course alongside Bennell.

"Little did he know that the man he looked up to and admired so much would take advantage of him, abuse his position of trust and treat him in the way he did.

"The victim was too scared to tell anyone what had happened and has had to live with what happened to him for many years.

"He has found it difficult to come forward and it was only recently that he felt the courage to report what happened.

"He has shown great courage in coming to court to give evidence and relive what happened to him and I hope that the conclusion of this case today will help to bring closure.

"Cheshire Police is committed to tackling this type of crime.

"Anyone who has been a victim of this type of crime, who may need support or has information can contact Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."