Barry Bennell: Victim stayed at paedophile coach's home, court told

Barry Bennell was jailed in 2018 for a string of child sexual abuse offences

A man has described how driving past a house where he was sexually abused by former coach Barry Bennell chills him to the "core".

The man had stayed at Bennell's "football-orientated" home as a boy while pursuing his dream of becoming a footballer, he told the High Court.

He is one of eight men suing Manchester City, asserting Bennell was a scout for the club when he abused them.

City disputes the claim for damages from the men.

The man told Mr Justice Johnson how football had been his world, and his life had revolved around the coach, who is now serving a jail term after being convicted of child sex crimes.

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The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he first met Bennell when he was about 11 or 12.

"He approached me and said he was a Manchester City scout. He gave me a calling card," he said.

The man said he played for a team coached by Bennell, trained with him at City's training ground, went to watch City games with him and stayed at Bennell's home.

Bennell is serving a 34-year prison sentence

"It was something I wanted to do," he told the judge.

"It was an environment a young person was attracted to. Everything was football-orientated.

"Football was my world and revolved around him at the time."

The man said he had suffered lifelong mental health problems caused by Bennell's abuse.

"I frequently have to pass Bennell's old house where much of the abuse took place and this makes me feel physically sick," he said.

"I go silent and internally cringe at what went on at that house."

Manchester City denies it is vicariously liable for the sexual abuse

He added: "When I drive past his house it sends a chill right down to my core."

The man said Bennell's abuse had scarred him and he had "lost his love" for football.

"I am sure that, but for the abuse, I could have become a professional footballer," he told the judge.

Mr Justice Johnson has heard the men, now in their 40s and 50s, were sexually and emotionally abused by Bennell in the North West of England between 1979 and 1985.

The men are claiming damages after suffering psychiatric injuries. Six are also claiming damages for loss of potential football earnings.

Manchester City FC said Bennell was a local scout in the mid-1970s but was not a scout between 1979 and 1985.

The trial continues.

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