BARRY BENNELL'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MILTON KEYNES AND RODE HEATH REVEALED

On July 31, 2020, Barry Bennell, a former football coach with a notorious history of child sexual abuse, appeared via video link at Chester Crown Court to face new charges related to his long history of offending. The 66-year-old, who is currently incarcerated following a 2018 conviction, admitted to nine sexual offences committed over three decades ago, involving two young boys. These offences include one count of buggery and six counts of indecent assault against one victim, and two counts of buggery against the other. The victims, who were between 10 and 14 years old at the time, were subjected to these heinous acts during the 1980s, a period marked by Bennell’s active coaching career.

His criminal history is extensive. In February 2018, Bennell was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of abusing 12 young footballers he coached between 1979 and 1991. The judge at Liverpool Crown Court described him as the ‘devil incarnate,’ highlighting the sheer scale of his crimes, which included 50 child sexual offences. It is believed that Bennell may have more than 100 victims, as an additional 86 individuals came forward claiming they had also been abused by him. The judge, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, condemned Bennell’s conduct, stating, ‘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.’

Judge Goldstone further emphasized the devastating impact Bennell’s actions had on his victims, noting that his abuse had destroyed their enthusiasm for football and caused long-term psychological issues such as suicidal thoughts, alcoholism, and depression. The court heard that Bennell had previously served three prison terms totaling 15 years for similar offences involving 16 other victims. During his six-week trial, evidence was presented that described Bennell’s abuse as ‘industrial scale,’ targeting vulnerable pre-pubescent boys who looked up to him as a coach and mentor. Several victims recounted how Bennell wielded a ‘power hold’ over them, exploiting their dreams of becoming professional footballers.

One police officer, Gary Cliffe, who read a statement in court, expressed his anguish by simply asking, “Barry. Barry. Why?” Cliffe, a detective constable with Staffordshire Police, was visibly emotional as he addressed Bennell, who remained silent and looked downward. Cliffe reflected on the trauma he endured, stating, “I have had over 30 years to consider, reflect and make sense of what he did to me, yet I still find it hard to effectively put into words the hell and mental suffering I have endured during this period of time. I look back on my childhood with regret and deep sadness.”

The court also heard from a victim who described how Bennell’s abuse robbed him of his innocence and his football aspirations. “I did not want it, did not ask for it and did not enjoy it,” he said. “I was a child, and between the ages of 10 to 13 that monster decided it was fun for him to use me as a sex toy, someone that he could get his kicks from. He took my innocence, my virginity and my football career. He preyed on his victims, groomed us while grooming our parents. People may wonder why I never told my parents, but after the pain and suffering, and more importantly the guilt they have felt over the past 12 months, I can now see why. My dad finds it very difficult to think that he was taking me to play football, and in reality, he was taking me to hell.”

In a separate case from February 2018, Bennell, then 64, was found guilty of abusing more young footballers by grooming them with promises of future stardom. He was convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault and buggery against three different victims, with offences spanning from 1979 to 1982. During the trial, Bennell was compared to the Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, highlighting the sinister nature of his manipulations. The jury learned that Bennell, who was also known as Richard Jones, had a reputation as a child molester on an ‘industrial scale,’ abusing boys at his homes, during trips abroad, and even in his car while traveling to training sessions. His associations with clubs such as Stoke City, Crewe Alexandra, and Manchester City further facilitated his access to young boys.

Victims recounted how Bennell exercised a ‘power hold’ over them, often grooming their families as well. His abuse extended beyond the UK, with offences committed at holiday camps like Butlins, in Spain, and in the United States. Bennell’s conduct was so egregious that he was once described as a ‘monster,’ and he was known to have kept exotic pets, including a puma and a monkey, at his homes. Due to health issues, Bennell appeared in court via videolink and chose not to testify in his own defence. Nonetheless, police transcripts revealed his admission of a ‘grooming process’ and an attraction to teenage boys.

His trial was ongoing at the time of reporting, with jurors deliberating on additional counts involving other complainants. Several victims were visibly emotional as the verdicts were delivered, and Bennell continued to deny the allegations, claiming that his accusers were ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ following recent publicity. His defence argued that Bennell was a ‘sitting target,’ having been previously convicted of child sexual abuse in the 1990s and in 2015.

In total, Bennell has been convicted of 27 counts of indecent assault, seven counts of buggery, and two counts of attempted buggery, involving ten victims aged between 9 and 14 years old, with offences dating from 1979 to 1990. His criminal record includes three prior prison terms for similar offences. Bennell’s history of abuse, combined with his associations with prominent football clubs, underscores the depth of his predatory behaviour and the profound harm inflicted upon his victims, many of whom have struggled with lifelong trauma.