Barry Bennell: Former football coach charged with child sexual offences spanning two decades

Bennell is currently serving a prison sentence for previous offences

(BBC)

Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with nine sexual offences in relation to two complainants.

Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, appeared via videolink at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning to face charges relating to two complainants, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Geoff Fryar, head of the complex casework unit of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service can confirm that Richard Jones, aka Barry Bennell, on Monday appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court via video link from HMP Littlehey.

“At the hearing Jones, 66, was charged with nine sexual offences in relation to two complainants.

“He has been charged with one count of buggery and six counts of indecent assault in relation to one complainant and two counts of buggery in relation to the second complainant.

“The CPS made the decision to charge Mr Bennell, a former football coach, after reviewing a file of evidence from Cheshire Police relating to allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse.”

In 2018, Bennell was jailed for 30 years for sexually abusing young boys he preyed on while working as a football coach.

The Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, described Bennell as “the devil incarnate” when passing sentence.

“Your behaviour towards these boys in grooming and seducing them before subjecting them to, in some cases, the most serious, degrading and humiliating abuse was sheer evil,” he said.

“You stole their childhoods and their innocence to satisfy your own perversion.”

Bennell was convicted of 50 child sexual offences against children as young as eight but many were specimen counts to reflect abuses committed on an “industrial scale” between 1979 and 1991.

The 64-year-old was convicted of offences against 12 boys but another 86 complainants have since come forward, pushing his potential victims over 100.

He has already served three jail terms, including one in the US, since 1995 for similar offences involving 16 other victims.

Bennell used football coaching to abuse boys on tours, at Butlin’s and in his car, while luring them to his homes in the Peak District where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey.

Bennell previously worked as a coach for Crewe Alexandra and a scout for Manchester City.