JAMES TORRETT'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN GLASGOW: CELTIC BOYS' CLUB FOUNDER GUILTY OF ABUSE
In November 2018, the city of Glasgow was rocked by the conviction of Jim Torbett, the founder of Celtic Boys' Club, who was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing three boys over an extensive period of eight years.The trial, held at the High Court in Glasgow, revealed the disturbing extent of Torbett’s predatory behavior, which he had vehemently denied prior to the verdict.
Jim Torbett, aged 71 and residing in Kelvindale, Glasgow, was convicted on five counts of abuse committed between August 1986 and August 1994.
The court heard that two of his victims had been part of his under-14 football teams, while the third was abused at the tender age of five.
The judge, Lord Beckett, delivered a scathing condemnation of Torbett’s actions, stating, “You groomed boys and contrived situations when you could abuse them.
Yours is some of the most corrupting behavior I have ever heard of in these courts.” The judge further emphasized the devastating impact of Torbett’s depraved conduct, asserting that it had “blighted their lives,” and condemned the Celtic Boys' Club for being exploited as a cover for child sexual abuse.
As the verdict was announced, emotional scenes unfolded in the public gallery, with tears and embraces among those affected by the case.
The court proceedings highlighted that Torbett’s criminal activities spanned from August 1986 to August 1994, during which he exploited his position of trust.
It was also revealed that Torbett had previously served a two-year sentence in 1998 for abusing three young Celtic Boys' Club players between 1967 and 1974.
At the time of the latest allegations, he was living in California, where further accusations of abuse emerged.
During the trial, victim Mr.
Campbell recounted his experience, describing how he played for Celtic Boys' Club at age 14.
He expressed that Torbett, who was also his manager, was initially his hero, someone he would have “run through walls for.” Unfortunately, this admiration was shattered when Torbett began to abuse him, including an assault during a trip to Noyon, France.
Another victim, Andrew Gray, who tragically died last year in Australia following a swimming pool accident, revealed that he was first abused after training sessions and was unaware of what was happening at the time.
Gray recounted lying in bed that night, questioning whether such behavior was normal for adults.
The third victim, now aged 35, testified that he was assaulted at the Trophy Centre business operated by Torbett in the Pollokshaws area of Glasgow.
He described being attacked when alone with Torbett, who dismissed the allegations as “something out of fairytales” and branded the victims as “liars.” In April 2017, a revealing BBC Scotland documentary titled “Football Abuse: The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game” exposed how Torbett was allowed to return to Celtic Boys' Club after being expelled for abuse.
The program featured testimonies from over 20 victims and shed light on how major clubs and police authorities failed to act on prior warnings.
It was disclosed that Torbett was only convicted for offenses committed up to 1974, despite allegations spanning decades.
Kenny Campbell, a former victim, claimed he was abused after Jock Stein, the legendary manager who had previously expelled Torbett from Celtic, had left the club.
Campbell expressed his frustration, stating, “If Celtic had done their due diligence, it wouldn’t have happened to me.” Campbell detailed how Torbett gained the trust of his parents, even spending Christmas Day with them, before the abuse escalated to the point where Torbett would give him cash, sometimes up to £530 in a single day.
He also recounted how multiple boys were abused simultaneously in Torbett’s flat.
Another victim described being abused dozens of times over three years from 1990, with allegations extending to Torbett’s flat and other locations.
The documentary also revealed that Torbett’s departure from Celtic was described as a “business decision” in the club’s magazine, The Celtic View, which critics argue was a cover-up.
Further investigations uncovered that Torbett was welcomed back to Celtic in 1980, despite being known to have committed abuse.
The club’s officials, including former Celtic board members Jack McGinn and Kevin Kelly, were implicated in the cover-up.
The documentary also presented a photograph of Jock Stein, the club’s honorary president, presenting an award to Torbett three years after his expulsion, raising questions about the club’s awareness of his past.
Beyond Celtic, the documentary highlighted the abuse committed by Gordon Neely, a coach at Hibs and Rangers, who targeted young players over decades.
Victims recounted harrowing experiences, including being spanked and raped by Neely, who later abused players at Dalguise House in Perthshire.
Neely’s misconduct was not reported to police at the time, allowing him to continue his abuse until his death from cancer three years prior.
One victim, Jon Cleland, detailed how Neely assaulted him from age 11, with incidents including being spanked and raped.
Other victims described similar abuse at Hibs and Rangers, with some being subjected to inappropriate physical contact and exploitation over several years.
Rangers claimed they informed police when they discovered Neely’s misconduct, but the BBC found no evidence of such reports.
The investigation also revealed that Neely ran football courses at Dalguise House, where further abuse occurred.
Victims, including Paul, who played for Edinburgh clubs, recounted how Neely examined and assaulted them under the guise of medical treatment.
In total, over 80 men involved in football are currently under investigation by police across the UK.
The authorities have received more than 130 claims of child sex abuse within Scottish football since November, highlighting the widespread nature of these crimes and the systemic failures that allowed them to persist for decades.
In a separate case in November 1998, Torbett was sentenced to two years in prison for abusing three young players, including future Scotland international Alan Brazil.
The court heard that Torbett exploited his position as a coach and founder of Celtic Boys' Club to commit these acts, which had taken place over 30 years earlier.
The judge, Sheriff Margaret Gimblett, emphasized that such conduct was unacceptable and that Torbett’s betrayal of trust had caused lasting damage.
Despite his defense claiming his difficult upbringing and current reclusive state, the court made it clear that justice must be served.
Most recently, at the High Court in Inverness, Judge Andrew Cubie sentenced James Torbett to three years’ imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of sexual offenses against a 13-year-old boy.
The judge described how Torbett deliberately targeted and groomed the victim, providing him with full football kit and accessories despite his lack of success in the sport, solely for his own sexual gratification.
The court heard that Torbett’s actions caused significant and lasting harm, including suicidal thoughts and the breakdown of the victim’s marriage.
The sentence was to be served consecutively to his current incarceration, and Torbett was also ordered to comply with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, including restrictions on working with children and vulnerable adults.
The judge acknowledged Torbett’s age and health issues but emphasized that his long history of offending and the profound impact on victims warranted a substantial custodial sentence, reflecting society’s condemnation of such heinous crimes.
