September, Friday 20, 2024

Barry Bennell, the football coach convicted of child abuse, passes away while serving his sentence


y7fUJFr2COSugWn.png

Paedophile former football coach Barry Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, has passed away at the age of 69 while in prison. Bennell was convicted in 2018 for 52 child sexual offences against 12 boys and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. His crimes took place during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s while he was working as a coach for Crewe Alexandra. Judge Clement Goldstone QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, described him as "the devil incarnate" and predicted that Bennell would likely die in prison during his sentencing. Bennell's final sentence, given in 2020, was his fifth jail term. During this hearing, it was revealed that he had suffered a detached retina from an assault in prison and was also in remission from cancer. Prior to his convictions in the UK, Bennell had already been imprisoned in Florida in 1994 for raping a British boy during a football tour. He then faced further sentences in Britain in 1998, 2015, 2018, and 2020. The revelations of Bennell's crimes in 2018 led to over 80 additional alleged victims coming forward to report abuse. However, during his 2020 sentencing, the decision was made to proceed only with cases involving the most serious offences. Prosecutor Owen Edwards described Bennell's actions as "industrial sexual abuse of boys" and noted that he had also played a significant role in shaping the careers of several international footballers. During his trial in 2018, Bennell's victims spoke about the power he held over them as they aspired to become professional footballers. He was idolized at Manchester City's Maine Road ground, where he was treated like a god. The abuse took place not only at his homes, which were equipped with arcade games and exotic pets such as a puma and a monkey, but also during trips and in his car during transportation to and from training. The Prison Service has confirmed Bennell's death, and as with all custodial deaths, it will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.