RONALD WEBB'S SHOCKING CRIME IN BATH AND SWINDON: FOOTBALL COACH TRIES TO RAPE 13-YEAR-OLD BOY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Bath and Swindon, Ronald Webb, a football coach with ties to both locations, has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a heinous attempt to assault a young boy. The incident, which dates back to 1986, was brought to light after the victim, now an adult, reported the abuse to authorities decades later.

Webb, aged 76 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court earlier this month of molesting a 13-year-old boy in his home on Winifred Street, Swindon. The court heard that the young victim, who was a player on Webb’s local football team, was invited to Webb’s residence along with several other players. During this visit, the boy went to the toilet, and it was at this moment that Webb burst into the bathroom, pressing the teenager against the cistern and attempting to carry out a sexual assault.

The victim recounted that he was able to break free from Webb’s grasp, and he believed that Webb would have succeeded in raping him if he had not managed to escape. The assault, which lasted approximately 30 seconds, left a lasting impact on the young boy, with the trauma echoing throughout his childhood and into his adult life, as noted by Judge William Hart during the sentencing.

At the sentencing hearing, Webb appeared in court dressed in blue jeans and a dark sweater. He showed no visible emotion as he was led away to the cells by a court officer. Webb, who resides on Brook Road in Bath, has a history of criminal behavior related to child abuse, and his case has reignited concerns within the local communities about safeguarding and the long-term effects of such crimes.

Adding a further layer of complexity to the case, Webb has announced his intention to pursue a private prosecution against the victim, claiming the allegations are false. This development was revealed during a pre-sentencing hearing when Webb contacted Wiltshire Police to inform them of his plans. Detective Sergeant Adrian Bray received a call from Webb on July 8, during which Webb expressed his belief that the victim’s accusations were fabricated and requested that the victim be prosecuted.

Prosecutor James Tucker explained that Webb’s call raised concerns about his mental health and the credibility of his claims. Webb, now 75, was convicted of attempted rape after a trial that lasted just over 90 minutes. The incident in question occurred in Webb’s Winifred Street terrace in Swindon during the summer of 1986, when Webb lured the boy to his home and attacked him after the teenager went to use the toilet. Webb had earlier approached the victim and his friends in a park, claiming he was establishing a new football team that would give them more opportunities to play.

The victim, who decided to come forward only after seeing media coverage of abuse scandals in professional football, described Webb as an odd figure who hung around with them and expressed disbelief that Webb had no real knowledge of football, joking that he probably knew only that the ball was round. Webb did not appear in court for the recent hearing and remains on bail with a night-time curfew until his sentencing scheduled for July 26.