'Monster' football coach jailed for sexual abuse

William Woods, 67, was found guilty by a jury in June after an eight-week trial

A former grassroots football coach described as a "monster of a man" has been jailed for 31 years after carrying out dozens of sex offences against eight children over a period spanning four decades.

William Woods, 67, was convicted at Chester Crown Court in June of 57 offences across Cheshire.

As a coach, Woods would regularly be in the company of young people, establishing a position of trust with their parents and creating influence, police said following Friday's sentencing hearing.

He would bring multiple children together at his home to "act out his warped sexual fantasies" by encouraging them to abuse one another.

Woods' crimes, in Crewe and Northwich between 1976 and 2006, included attempted rape, inciting children to commit acts of gross indecency and inciting boys to engage in sexual activity.

The court also heard how Woods physically abused his victims, locking them in cupboards and burning them with cigarettes or a pan.

The offences did not come to light until Cheshire Police were approached by one of his victims in 2018.

After his conviction earlier this summer, police said Woods had abused the position of trust he had earned, describing him as a "malignant and opportunistic sexual predator".

Woods, of Lawton Street, Congleton, was arrested in 2022 but denied committing any abuse, claiming he had never met any of the victims, accusing them of lying.

'Childhood destroyed'

Speaking during the sentencing hearing on Friday, one of his victims said Woods had destroyed his childhood and changed his life forever.

"My behaviour as a child changed. I started to play up and get into trouble," he said.

He described Woods as "a monster of a man" and added: "I've grown up with a very negative view of homosexuality and homosexuals. It's hugely impacted my relationships with other men."

He said he had found it "incredibly difficult" to manage the rage he felt towards Woods.

"I wanted him to die as I didn't think he deserved to live after what he did to me."

Giving evidence against Woods had given him strength, he added.

After giving his statement, he turned to the judge and appealed to him directly to make sure Woods never left prison.

Another of his victims said: "I felt that what Woods did to me was normal and was love.

"I live each day with the emotional and physical scars."

A third victim speaking in court on Friday said they had been left with "deep trust issues" and had trouble making and maintaining friendships.

"The pain and trauma from that time will forever be an unwanted time of me," he said.

Other victims, via written statements read in court, spoke of their fear of not being believed and of battles with anxiety and depression.

By pleading not guilty and making everyone go to court "was [Woods'] final way of abusing me", one said.

Another said Woods had told them he would be arrested and get in trouble if he told anyone about what had happened.

Addressing Woods, Judge Patrick Thompson said: "You used your status as an adult who'd been in the army to scare victims."

"There was a level of sophistication in your offending – which was tailored to each victim."

He added: "You present as an arrogant and cruel man who lacks empathy for your victims."

'Prolific, serial paedophile'

Prosecution lawyer John Philpotts KC said Woods had been dismissed from the army in 1983 for disgraceful conduct involving indecency.

He sexually assaulted a young recruit while he was in a position of authority over him in the army, he added.

He said Woods also had a conviction in 1988 for gross indecency involving two males, one of whom was under 21 - the age of consent at the time.

In 2006 he was made subject of an extended sentence of 15 years in prison for sexual offences against three boys under the age of 16.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in June the investigation into Woods' crimes had been one of the biggest child sex abuse cases in the Mersey-Cheshire area due to the volume of offending and number of victims.

Sarah Egan, crown advocate at the CPS, said then: "[Woods] is a prolific, serial paedophile who brought misery and suffering to these victims at various points over a 30-year period, via a campaign of grooming, duress and abuse."