"They're blaming me for not coming forward soon enough," says former Crewe player Walters, who feels League Two club is showing "no humanity"
Thursday 28 February 2019 16:46, UK
Steve Walters says he is 'absolutely disgusted' by Crewe's attempt to escape legal action over the abuse he suffered from paedophile coach Barry Bennell on the basis of a technicality.
Walters is taking Crewe to court after claiming they told him he had waited too long to report the horrific abuse he received from Bennell.
Walters had hoped he could reach a settlement with the club, but the 47-year-old believes Crewe's alleged attempt to deny liability because he delayed reporting the abuse left him with no option other than to pursue the matter in court.
In a statement, Walters said: "This response is a slap in the face. All I've ever wanted was for Crewe to take responsibility for what they've done - the role they played in the abuse of so many children.
"They're blaming me for not coming forward soon enough. They say how much they regret the abuse that took place, yet, in the same breath, deny any responsibility for what happened to me.
"After everything we've been through in the criminal trial, all the evidence that emerged, I'm absolutely disgusted."
That was Bennell's fourth sentence for child abuse since 1994, and there is a strong chance he will face another trial as dozens more victims have come forward since Andy Woodward, another ex-Crewe player, broke his silence on the abuse he suffered in an interview with The Guardian in November 2016.
Crewe's response to the national crisis sparked by that interview has been widely criticised and this latest development will only increase the scrutiny on a club that was once respected for their development of football talent.
Earlier this week, it emerged that Crewe have admitted to the Football Association-commissioned inquiry into the scandal that they did no background checks on Bennell before hiring him, and even encouraged him and other coaches to invite boys to stay overnight at their houses and take them on holidays.
And now, Walters says, the club's lawyers have written to say there is "no reasonable explanation or justification" for him to have waited longer than the allowed three-year limit for a personal injury claim, although this limit is usually waived in child sexual abuse cases.
Walters' lawyer Kim Harrison said: "Predatory paedophiles like Bennell operate by scaring and shaming their victims into silence. This fear and shame makes it incredibly difficult for victims to disclose abuse.
"It can take years and sometimes even decades for victims of child sexual abuse to find the courage to speak out."
Walters, the co-founder of the Offside Trust charity that supports survivors of abuse and campaigns for improved safeguarding in sport, said: "We've been dignified and wanted to be amicable, but Crewe is showing no humanity.
"How would the club's chairman like it if one of his loved ones was told they'd waited too long to report abuse?
"It's only recently I've been able to speak about what happened. There was a culture of secrecy and shame back then - and that's what Bennell used to enable him to abuse so many boys.
"I never expected to have that delay thrown back in my face, I'm horrified by Crewe's tactics. This is not the behaviour of an organisation which says it wants to take responsibility and make sure it doesn't happen again."
A spokesman for Crewe said: "This matter is being handled by the club's insurer's solicitors and remains the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. It is not therefore appropriate for the club to comment at this stage."
