JOHN BUTCHER'S SHOCKING REIGN IN LONDON YOUTH FOOTBALL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE CONVICTIONS
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the London football community, John Butcher, a 67-year-old former football scout, has been found to have continued working with young players despite a long history of convictions related to child abuse images.His involvement in youth football activities in London raises serious questions about safeguarding and the effectiveness of existing oversight measures.
It has been confirmed that Butcher was employed at Millwall Football Club, a prominent London-based team, where he worked as a scout for many years.
Despite his criminal record, which includes convictions for attempting to smuggle child abuse images into Gatwick Airport from Amsterdam in 1993, and for attempting to purchase a child abuse video from America in 2003, Butcher maintained his role in youth football.
Last year, he was convicted of breaching a sexual offences order by taking a boy to football matches while still claiming to be a Millwall scout.
Court records reveal that he traveled with the boy to various youth matches over nearly a year and engaged in text messaging with him, actions that led to his latest conviction.
In a statement, Butcher insisted, “I’ve never physically abused any children,” attempting to downplay the severity of his past crimes.
His continued involvement in youth football was uncovered after he was traced to an address in south London, where he was photographed wearing a Millwall coat, further fueling concerns about his ongoing presence in the sport.
Adding to the controversy, Butcher admitted to working with the youth team at Cobham FC in 2004, a full 11 years after his initial conviction.
He confirmed his role as secretary and youth team worker at the club, despite the serious allegations and convictions against him.
When questioned about his activities, he reiterated, “I’ve never physically abused any children,” attempting to dismiss the allegations.
His history of involvement in youth football extends back to the 1990s, during which he also scouted for Chelsea and Wimbledon.
Former Chelsea player Gary Johnson has claimed that he was paid off by Chelsea to keep quiet about being abused by Eddie Heath, Chelsea’s former chief scout, who has also been accused of abusing youth players.
Butcher expressed disbelief upon hearing these claims, stating, “I can’t believe it.
It was a real shock,” and insisted he knew nothing about Heath’s alleged misconduct.
He said, “I would see him quite regularly at games, and we would talk.
People are saying he was always with kids, but I never saw him with children.
I just could not believe it.” Despite his convictions, Butcher continued to be involved in youth football activities.
Court records show that he was convicted again in 2003 for attempting to buy a child abuse video, and in 2006, he was subjected to a five-year child protection order and a seven-year registration on the sex offenders’ register after being caught viewing paedophile images in an internet café in Mitcham, south London.
Shockingly, after breaching his sexual offences order last year, he was found to have traveled with a boy to football matches, which led to his latest conviction.
Yet, he is currently not on the sex offenders’ register and is not subject to any court order, allowing him to coach children freely.
An anonymous former youth worker claimed to have seen Butcher managing a boys’ football team after his 1993 conviction, raising serious concerns about the oversight and safeguarding measures in place within London’s youth football scene.
