This story was run in the Record in May.
Barry Bennell Cost Me Millions Says Victim Of Paedo Coach - 28 May 19
A Scots survivor of evil paedophile Barry Bennell says the coach cost him a career as a rich football star. The victim - who does not wish to named - says Bennell targeted dozens of Scots boys he called his 'specials', adding: “I could have been a millionaire and now I am left with nothing.
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The former Manchester City youth player was one of Bennell's main victims, suffering a sustained, horrendous ordeal at his hands when he was just 12. The victim says the abuse cost him the chance to be an elite football star – and that compensation for loss of earnings should run into millions.
Ex-youth coach Bennell – one of Britain’s worst child abusers – was convicted of 43 charges relating to 12 young players between 1979 and 1990 while at City and Crewe Alexandra. The victim suffers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after his ordeal. He revealed Bennell would groom kids from north of the border and take them to football tournaments at resorts down south for sexual abuse.
He said: “He was like a pied piper, a star-maker who would promise everyone the world. It turns out he was actually the Jimmy Savile or Gary Glitter of football – the worst of the worst. I am a grandad now and I would love to get even just half an hour alone with him. All the mums loved him and fancied him as he was this glamorous football expert with the hairdo, flash cars and fancy clothes.
He would bring kids from all over Scotland. I think about that all the time and what happened to them. He called us his ‘specials’ – we thought then that it was because we were the best players destined for the top tier of football. But all the time it was because we were the focus of his sick, perverted abuse. I wish he had been caught before he could force himself on these kids.
At one of these tournaments, he tried to rape me when were at Butlins. That was the worst thing. I couldn’t take any more. I could have played for the national team, for Manchester City, Celtic, Rangers, you name it. But I didn’t want to kick a ball again.
I’d get my football kit on then get on the train and ride up and down the line for hours, then go home so my family wouldn’t catch on to the fact I wasn’t going to training or matches. I ditched all my trophies and awards, I couldn’t even look at them
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An alleged paedophile ring involving Bennell and former Celtic kitman and Celtic Boys Club coach, Jim McCafferty, is being investigated. The Scottish and English FAs are examining a 'partnership' between Jim McCafferty and Bennell. Earlier this month, McCafferty (73) was jailed for abusing boys over a 24-year period.
The victim – now in his late 40s and from Glasgow – said: “Bennell must have touched me in an inappropriate way thousands of times. I didn’t know what to do. I was 12 and it was something I never told anyone about. Even years later, I never told my wife about it. I don’t doubt for a second Bennell was connected with other paedophiles operating in Scottish clubs.
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Bennell was jailed for 31 years. It was his fourth conviction for abusing boys. In March, Manchester City FC launched a compensation scheme worth millions of pounds for survivors of historic sex abuse as an alternative to going through a lengthy court process.
Youth players abused by Bennell could get upwards of £100k each. It is intended that survivors will also get a full apology from the club. Last year, Celtic boss Neil Lennon said he felt angry that two pals and ex-team-mates were sexually abused by Bennell. Lennon played alongside Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, two of Bennell’s victims, at Crewe Alexandra.
Bennell’s Scots victim said: “Bennell has ruined my life. I had the world at my feet. I would have been an elite professional footballer and he took all that away from me. I have been left with PTSD, sleeping rough and my marriage has fallen apart. Sometimes, even something as innocent as a song from the 80s like Kool and the Gang would trigger me.
If I was driving, I’d need to pull over, walk about and try to stay calm. Other times, I’d go on a five-day bender and smash my hands or head through walls. I could have been a millionaire and now I am left with literally nothing. Where is my apology and compensation for loss of potential earnings? Manchester City have set up a compensation scheme but Celtic have tried to sweep the whole thing under the carpet.
Crewe Alexandra have admitted responsibility for some of the abuse by Bennell. They have paid compensation, but City have been delaying and I have not seen a penny. The fact Bennell is in jail is not the end for me. This never ends for me.
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https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/vile-paedo-barry-bennell-preyed-16211270
www.scotsman.com
