Barry Bennell found guilty of seven further charges of indecent assault
Bennell found guilty of 43 sex offences in total; 64-year-old to be sentenced on Monday
Thursday 15 February 2018 19:29, UK
Former football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of seven further charges of child sexual assault, including rape.
He has now been convicted of a total of 43 counts of child sex abuse against 11 victims.
A cheer of "yes" came from the public gallery where six complainants sat - some of them cried as the judge discharged the jury.
Bennell, who was a coach and worked at clubs including Crewe, Stoke and Manchester City, will have to be present in court when sentenced on Monday at 12pm.
It is understood a further 86 complainants have come forward to report abuse by the 64-year-old.
Jackie Lamb, from the CPS, said: "Barry Bennell is a predatory paedophile who groomed and abused young boys who dreamed of a career in professional football.
"He claimed his accusers were making up stories about him following previous convictions and stories in the media but thanks to the evidence from his victims, the CPS and police were able to build a strong case to expose Bennell's denials as lies.
"Because of the scale of Bennell's offending, the prosecution faced a number of challenges, including selecting charges which would adequately reflect the scale and seriousness of what Bennell did. The indictment before the court properly reflected that offending and will allow the court to sentence appropriately.
"I would like to pay tribute to the victims who have come forward to give evidence against him and I hope this outcome gives them some sense of justice being done after so many years."
Bennell had denied a total of 45 sexual offences against 11 schoolboy footballers between 1979 and 1991, but pleaded guilty to seven indecent assaults just as the trial started last month.
He was charged after former footballer Andy Woodward spoke out in late 2016 about the abuse he suffered.
David Lean was 12 when he won a football talent competition at a holiday camp in North Wales in 1979, when he first met Bennell.
Just months later, Bennell invited him to stay at his home, where he abused him.
Bennell was jailed for those offences after Mr Lean went to police in 2015.
"He was charismatic, he had this cheesy winning grin and it was almost as if there were two of him - the charm was all part of the grooming process," Mr Lean told Sky News.
"He would give you football kit, he had all the skills and tricks. Dads and mums thought he was fantastic, but it was all a smokescreen. He was a professional groomer, he made a career out of it. He's a monster.
"I hope he never sets foot outside prison again. I hope he rots now."
A police officer who oversaw the team responsible for interviewing Bennell for this latest prosecution told Sky News he had no remorse about the abuse he inflicted on the children.
"My overall impression of Barry Bennell is that he just is incapable of empathy for any human being," said Detective Inspector Sarah Oliver, from Cheshire Police.
"He is utterly indifferent to the suffering he has caused. He is arrogant and really selfish."
Crewe Alexandra released a statement on Thursday "expressing its deepest sympathies to the victims", and said that it would continue to cooperate with the police with any of their future enquiries.
The Professional Footballers' Association welcomed the decision and their statement read: "We would like to acknowledge the remarkable bravery and courage that all the victims have shown, not only to speak out, but to testify in court and bring this individual to justice.
"The PFA continues to support survivors of sexual abuse and encourages anyone else who may have suffered, if they are ready to do so, to speak with the police."
PFA's advice for reporting non-recent abuse:
- Police: dial 101
- NSPCC helpline: 0800 023 2642
- PFA members can call our 24 Hour Helpline: 07500 000 777
