Barry Bennell Charged With Child Sex Offences

[mikey4444]

Breaking news.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38150244

"Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight offences of sex assault against a boy aged under 14, prosecutors have said"

[jno]

is something since he got out of jail or a historic offence they didn't pick up at the time?

[Baldric]

Jailed for 9 years in late 90's, so no surprise.

[mikey4444]

I presume that this is a new offence jno, but I guess we will know soon enough,

[andy-hughes]

I would suggest that this is historic, and that is possibly the reason for his alleged suicide attempt.

[jno]

yes, 1981-85 apparently.

[gulliver1]

Who the hell is Barry Bennell? , never ever heard of him until this week .

[Mamyalynne]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_sexual_abuse_scandal#Barry_Bennell

[jourdain2]

I hadn't heard of him either, Gulliver, but it seems that he was entrusted with the safekeeping and training of many young boys - and signally failed in that area.

[ummmm]

I don't think many of us could name football coaches.

[andy-hughes]

ummmm - Indeed, I live about fifteen miles from Crewe, and he has worked at Stoke City, and I can see their ground from my house, and I had no idea who he was until this news.

[ummmm]

I can't even remember the name of my sons football coach.

[agchristie]

With his track record and convictions behind him, I do wonder if any subsequent jury will adhere purely to the evidence against him once he stands trial.

[Elina]

I really felt so sorry for this broken man .. http://www.itv.com/news/2016-11-28/ex-youth-footballer-fears-he-may-have-been-one-of-barry-bennells-first-victim-in-early-1970s/

[mikey4444]

Elina ....broken is the word....poor chap.

[naomi24]

ag at 21:35 Tue, that would be difficult.

[mikey4444]

What is interesting about this latest development, is the timing.

According to my Guardian this morning, the CPS received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police in September.

Following on from that evidence, Bennell was charged with multiple offences against a 14 year old boy.

So..... it would seem that the Police have been busy looking at evidence for many weeks, certainly way before this story broke with Andy Woodward 10 days ago.

[grumpy01]

Tonight two Men who were at Southampton as youngsters have said they were abused by a member of staff there.This whole issue is going to have to bring about changes in the way clubs look after their young recruits,which can be no bad thing.