LONDON: Former youth football coach Barry Bennell was found guilty of multiple counts of child sexual abuse on Tuesday, triggering tears from those who accused him of assaulting them as youngsters.

Bennell, 64, who coached at Crewe Alexandra and scouted for Manchester City, was found guilty on 36 counts involving 10 child victims between 1979 and 1990.

The trial at Liverpool Crown Court in northwest England heard that Bennell has served prison sentences for prior sex offences.

During the trial, prosecutors told the court that Bennell was a "child molester on an industrial scale" who groomed not only his victims but their families too.

His accusers told how how he was treated with great reverence at Manchester City's ground and had a "power hold" over the boys as they dreamed of becoming professional footballers.

He abused the boys at his homes, where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey, but also on trips away and in his car while on the way to and from training, jurors heard.

Bennell, who appeared in court via videolink due to illness, declined to give evidence in his defence.

The court was read a transcript of a police interview with Bennell conducted in February 2017.

Bennell denied abusing one boy but admitted that he had stayed at his house and slept in his bed.

He said the youth footballer would have been too young for him to be attracted to when they first met.

He said: "I always tended to aim for the 13-year-olds."

Bennell also claimed he had been abusing another boy at the time.

He said: "I had a victim; I didn't need two or three or four."

He was convicted Tuesday of 27 counts of indecent assault, seven counts of buggery and two of attempted buggery.

Sky News television reported that some of those who accused Bennell of child abuse wept in the courtroom as the guilty verdicts were read out.

Before the trial, Bennell admitted seven counts of indecent assault involving three boys, two of whom were part of the trial.

That left Bennell facing trial on 48 counts. He has been convicted on 36; the jury was ordered to return not guilty verdicts on three, while two others were alternative charges so will not now be dealt with.

The jury were to resume their deliberations on Friday on the seven outstanding counts.</s>Former Crewe Alexandra youth football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of historic sex offences.

The jury in Bennell’s case, which has been heard at Liverpool Crown Court, has unanimously found him guilty on 36 counts of historic sexual abuse.

The jury returmed not guilty verdicts on three further counts, following directions from the judge, and they have yet to reach a verdict on seven other counts.

They will resume their deliberations tomorrow morning (Wednesday) on the remaining seven counts.</s>Serial paedophile Barry Bennell was convicted yesterday of abusing young footballers after telling them he could fulfil their dreams of a career in the sport.

The 64-year-old, who has previously been jailed three times for similar offences, was found guilty of 36 sex charges against more victims.

Liverpool Crown Court heard him described as a “child molester on an industrial scale” like the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Victims who were coached by Bennell as boys told how he had a “power hold” over them as they dreamed of becoming professional footballers.

The court heard he was treated like God at Manchester City’s Maine Road ground.

He abused the boys at his homes – where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey – and on trips away and in his car while on the way to and from training.

A victim who he admitted abusing in 1998 said he knew of four men coached by Bennell who went on to take their own lives, including former Wales manager Gary Speed.

The jury were told there was no evidence to link the deaths to Bennell, who appeared in court via videolink for health reasons and declined to give evidence in his own defence.

The court heard transcripts of police interviews where he admitted having a “grooming process” and being attracted to teenage boys.

But he denied the new allegations and said his accusers were “jumping on the bandwagon” following publicity.

Eleanor Laws QC, defending, described Bennell as being a “sitting target” after being convicted of child sexual abuse in the 1990s and in 2015.

She said: “The defendant is a known target and he coached these boys.

“They know that when making allegations, whether truthful or not, they are making allegations against a convicted paedophile.”</s>Former Crewe Alexandra youth football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of historic sex offences.

The jury in Bennell’s case, which has been heard at Liverpool Crown Court, has unanimously found him guilty on 36 counts of historic sexual abuse.

The jury returmed not guilty verdicts on three further counts, following directions from the judge, and they have yet to reach a verdict on seven other counts.

They will resume their deliberations tomorrow morning (Wednesday) on the remaining seven counts.</s>Paedophile football coach Barry Bennell is facing a fourth jail sentence after a jury convicted him of 36 counts of historical child sex abuse.

On Tuesday, Bennell, 64, was found guilty of serious sexual offences against 10 complainants between 1979 and 1990.

Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court have yet to reach verdicts on seven counts on the indictment against Bennell, including four counts involving an 11th complainant.

READ MORE: Abuse accused Barry Bennell treated as 'god' at football ground, court told

Complainants - former youth footballers coached by the defendant - and their family members were in tears in the public gallery as the jury foreman began to return the verdicts in a hushed courtroom.

Former Crewe Alexandra coach and Manchester City scout Bennell appeared via videolink and could be seen speaking as the verdicts began to be read out.

The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, told the jury he would accept verdicts which 10 or more of them were agreed on in relation to the remaining seven counts.

He said: "We will, of course, invite you to endeavour to reach unanimous verdicts in relation to the remaining counts, but if you are unable to do so (we will accept) verdicts in which respect of 10 of you agree."

The jury, which has been deliberating for more than 19 hours since last Thursday, will resume their deliberations at 10.15am on Wednesday.

During the trial, the court has heard Bennell compared to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as he invited boys to his house where he had arcade games, a pool table, videos and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey.

In his closing speech, Nicholas Johnson QC, prosecuting, said: "We suggest Mr Bennell is a child molester on an industrial scale and that's why he went to these lengths to get so many lads round to his house."

In transcripts of police interviews which were read in court, Bennell, who has changed his name to Richard Jones, told the police about his grooming process and abuse of boys, but claimed the complainants in the case were "jumping on the bandwagon" following publicity.

He chose not to appear in the witness box and no evidence was called by the defence.

Eleanor Laws QC, defending, described Bennell as a "sitting target" and asked jurors to put their "understandable potential revulsion" aside when considering verdicts.

One of Bennell's victims, who he had pleaded guilty to abusing in 1998, previously told the jury he knew of four men who had been coached by Bennell, including former Wales manager Gary Speed, who had gone on to take their own lives.

But the jury was later told there was no evidence to link their deaths to Bennell.

Bennell has served three previous jail terms, totalling 15 years, for child sex offences against 17 young boys.

On Tuesday, Bennell was convicted of 27 counts of indecent assault, seven counts of buggery and two counts of attempted buggery.

Before the trial started last month, Bennell pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault involving three boys, two of whom were part of the trial.</s>Ex-football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of multiple sex offences against boys in the 1980s.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Bennell had a "power hold" over aspiring players aged between eight and 15 and abused them on an "industrial scale".

The 64-year-old was convicted of 36 charges against 10 boys, including indecent and serious sexual assaults.

The jury is still considering verdicts on seven counts and will continue their deliberations on Wednesday.

Prosecutors had described Bennell as a "predatory and determined paedophile".

They compared him to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, while his victims described his home as a "paradise" for young boys, where they would play games and be given takeaway food.

Boys were abused at his home - where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey - on trips away, and in his car on the way to and from training.

The youth scout and junior football coach was associated with a number of clubs including Crewe Alexandra, and Manchester City - where he was said to have been treated like "God".

In his evidence to the court, one victim, Chris Unsworth, said Bennell had raped him "about half a dozen times".

Image copyright PA Image caption Chris Unsworth told the court he had been abused by Barry Bennell as a child

He was a junior footballer playing for his local club and Bennell at the time worked as a scout for Manchester City.

Bennell was convicted of all five charges against Mr Unsworth, when he was aged between eight and 14.

Three jail terms

Bennell, who is now known as Richard Jones, appeared in court via videolink due to illness.

Image copyright Julia Quenzler Image caption The jury deliberated for four days before returning their verdicts

The jury was told Bennell had previously received three jail sentences in the UK and in the US after being convicted of abusing boys.

He chose not to offer any evidence or witnesses in his defence and had told police he was suffering from cancer, which in turn had caused memory problems.

His barrister accused the complainants of inventing stories about him and "jumping on the bandwagon".

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The BBC's Danny Savage reports on the verdicts

The jury of five men and six women had spent four days deliberating after the five-week trial.

They were considering a total of 48 charges against 11 complainants which Bennell had denied at the start of the proceedings.

He was convicted of 36 charges relating to 10 complainants.

During the trial, the judge had directed them to find him not guilty on three of the charges. Two counts he was found guilty of carried alternative charges - which the jury will no longer be dealing with.

The judge has told the jury he will accept a majority verdict on the seven charges on which they have not yet reached verdicts. Four of these charges relate to an 11th complainant.</s>A paedophile football coach who lived in Milton Keynes has been found guilty of further sex offences against young boys.

Barry Bennell, 64, was convicted of 36 charges - including indecent assault and sexual assault - at Liverpool Crown Court yesterday. The charges related to 10 boys.

The jury is set to return today to deliberate on seven outstanding charges.

Bennell was a former football scout at clubs including Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra in the 1980s.

The predatory coach had been living in Milton Keynes as recently as November 2016, where police raided his home.</s>Former football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault and male rape after a month-long trial.

Bennell had denied 48 offences, including indecent assault, attempted buggery and buggery, relating to 11 complainants aged between eight and 15.

He was convicted of 38 charges, and a judge directed not guilty verdicts on three counts of indecent assault.

Jurors will resume deliberations on seven outstanding charges tomorrow.

The incidents happened between 1979 and 1990.

Bennell, 64, was "a child molester on an industrial scale" who had a "power hold" over the complainants, a prosecutor told the court.

The jury was directed to return not guilty verdicts in respect of three of the counts of indecent assault because there was no evidence.

Bennell was convicted of two counts of indecently assaulting one young boy between 1979 and 1982.

He was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of buggery against a second complainant and four counts of indecent assault against a third complainant.

The jury found Bennell guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted buggery against a fourth complainant and four counts of indecent assault against a fifth complainant.

He was found guilty of three counts of buggery against a sixth complainant and four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted buggery against a seventh complainant.

He was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against a eighth complainant, one count of indecent assault and two counts of buggery against a ninth complainant and three counts of indecent assault against an 10th complainant.

The jury is still deliberating on four counts involving an 11th complainant and three other counts involving other complainants.

A jury of six women and five men returned their verdicts this afternoon after being sent out to deliberate on Thursday morning.

During the trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard Bennell compared to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as he invited boys to his house where he had arcade games, a pool table, videos and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey.

In his closing speech, Nicholas Johnson QC, prosecuting, said: "We suggest Mr Bennell is a child molester on an industrial scale and that's why he went to these lengths to get so many lads round to his house."

The 11 complainants, as well as witnesses who Bennell has admitted abusing, gave evidence about abuse by the former Crewe Alexandra coach, who was described as having a "power hold" over them.

The court heard when he was a scout for Manchester City he was treated like "God" at the club's Maine Road ground.

One of Bennell's victims, who he had pleaded guilty to abusing in 1998, said he knew of four men who had been coached by Bennell, including former Wales manager Gary Speed, who had gone on to take their own lives.

But the jury was later told there was no evidence to link their deaths to Bennell.

In transcripts of police interviews which were read in court, Bennell, who has changed his name to Richard Jones, told the police about his grooming process and abuse of boys, but claimed the complainants in the case were "jumping on the bandwagon" following publicity.

The former coach, who appeared via videolink from prison for the hearings, chose not to appear in the witness box and no evidence was called by the defence.

In her closing speech, Eleanor Laws QC, defending, described Bennell as a "sitting target" and asked jurors to put their "understandable potential revulsion" aside when considering verdicts.

She said: "The defendant is a known target and he coached these boys.

"They know when making allegations, whether truthful or not, that they are making allegations against a convicted paedophile."</s>Former football coach Barry Bennell has been found guilty of multiple counts of indecent assault and male rape after a month-long trial.

Bennell had denied 48 offences, including indecent assault, attempted buggery and buggery, relating to 11 complainants aged between eight and 15.

He was convicted of 38 charges, and a judge directed not guilty verdicts on three counts of indecent assault.

Jurors will resume deliberations on seven outstanding charges tomorrow.

The incidents happened between 1979 and 1990.

Bennell, 64, was "a child molester on an industrial scale" who had a "power hold" over the complainants, a prosecutor told the court.

The jury was directed to return not guilty verdicts in respect of three of the counts of indecent assault because there was no evidence.

Bennell was convicted of two counts of indecently assaulting one young boy between 1979 and 1982.

He was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of buggery against a second complainant and four counts of indecent assault against a third complainant.

A jury of six women and five men returned their verdicts this afternoon after being sent out to deliberate on Thursday morning.

During the trial, Liverpool Crown Court heard Bennell compared to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as he invited boys to his house where he had arcade games, a pool table, videos and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey.

In his closing speech, Nicholas Johnson QC, prosecuting, said: "We suggest Mr Bennell is a child molester on an industrial scale and that's why he went to these lengths to get so many lads round to his house."

The 11 complainants, as well as witnesses who Bennell has admitted abusing, gave evidence about abuse by the former Crewe Alexandra coach, who was described as having a "power hold" over them.

The court heard when he was a scout for Manchester City he was treated like "God" at the club's Maine Road ground.

One of Bennell's victims, who he had pleaded guilty to abusing in 1998, said he knew of four men who had been coached by Bennell, including former Wales manager Gary Speed, who had gone on to take their own lives.

But the jury was later told there was no evidence to link their deaths to Bennell.

In transcripts of police interviews which were read in court, Bennell, who has changed his name to Richard Jones, told the police about his grooming process and abuse of boys, but claimed the complainants in the case were "jumping on the bandwagon" following publicity.

The former coach, who appeared via videolink from prison for the hearings, chose not to appear in the witness box and no evidence was called by the defence.

In her closing speech, Eleanor Laws QC, defending, described Bennell as a "sitting target" and asked jurors to put their "understandable potential revulsion" aside when considering verdicts.

She said: "The defendant is a known target and he coached these boys.

"They know when making allegations, whether truthful or not, that they are making allegations against a convicted paedophile."</s>Former youth coach Barry Bennell was found guilty of multiple counts of child sexual abuse on Tuesday in a case that rocked English football, triggering hundreds of revelations. Bennell, 64, a former coach at Crewe Alexandra who was also associated with Manchester City, is being tried on 48 counts of abuse between 1979 and 1990.

New revelations in 2016 about Bennell, who had previously received three prison sentences for similar offences, prompted more than 350 calls to a special emergency line set up by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Football Association chairman Greg Clarke said at the time there were “moral consequences of failing to deal with some of these issues in the past” and ordered an inquiry into the handling of abuse cases.

The jury on Tuesday delivered partial verdicts and will resume deliberations on Wednesday. They found Bennell guilty on two charges of indecently assaulting one young boy between 1979 and 1982. He was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of buggery against a second complainant.

Bennell was also found guilty of four counts of indecent assault against a third complainant. Bennell appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in northwest England via videolink due to illness.
Former association football coach Barry Bennell is convicted of 36 counts of indecent assault against youth footballers in the 1980s and 1990s, following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.