Ex-youth coach Bennell sentenced to 31 years for 50 counts of sexual abuse
Barry Bennell was described as "sheer evil" by judge Clement Goldstone on Monday as he was sentenced to 31 years for 50 counts of child sexual abuse.
The verdict was delivered at Liverpool Crown Court, and related to paedophilic behaviour against 12 men who were aged eight to 15 between 1979 and 1991. A further 86 people have come forward since the trial began to lodge their own complaints against the former youth coach, according to the Guardian's Daniel Taylor.
Judge Goldstone delivering Barry #Bennell sentence: "Your behaviour towards these boys was sheer evil. Football was their life. You appeared a God to these boys. In reality you were the devil incarnate. You stole their childhoods and innocence."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 19, 2018
Bennell is set to spend 30 years in custody, with the rest of the term on licence. He had previously served two prison sentences in England and one in the United States, prompting him to be now known as Richard Jones.
Bennell was reportedly reluctant to make eye contact with his victims from the dock, some of whom "suffered from depression, anxiety, panic attacks, flashbacks, and nightmares. Some were diagnosed with PTSD and had had relationship issues; others had turned to drink and drugs and been suicidal," wrote Taylor. When the sentence was read out, Bennell bowed his head and nodded.
A few of those who had suffered from Bennell's disgusting conduct cried "yes" when the verdict was read and embraced outside the court.
The 64-year-old was previously a standout figure in his field, with a celebrated reputation for spotting and coaching young talent for Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, and Stoke City, and with junior teams in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester. However, when he was convicted of 36 charges last week, trial prosecutors described Bennell as a "predatory and determined paedophile" who molested young boys on an "industrial scale."
The spotlight was put on the horrific treatment historically suffered by some youth players when Taylor interviewed Andy Woodward for the Guardian. Woodward detailed the calculated paedophilia of Bennell while he was on the books of Crewe, and his account encouraged swathes of retired footballers to come forward with their own accounts that implicated Bennell or others who worked in the game.
Woodward was in the courtroom to hear Monday's result, along with other victims Gary Cliffe, Steve Walters, Micky Fallon, and Chris Unsworth.