The most recent report made by an ex-footballer, Andy Woodward, against Barry Bennell was in 2016.
Andy Woodward, an ex-Crewe, Sheffield United and Bury footballer, waived his right to anonymity and spoke publicly to the Guardian newspaper about the abuse he suffered from Barry Bennell.
At this time, Bennell had already served three sentences for numerous sexual offences against young boys, but more reports kept coming. After Bennell was given his third sentence for sexual offences in 2015 at Chester Crown Court, he was jailed to two years. The offences included two counts of indecent assault and two counts of enticing boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency.
Andy Woodward was playing for Stockport Boys at the age of 11 when he was scouted by Bennell.
Talking to the Guardian newspaper, Mr Woodward gave the gravity, scale and extent of Bennell’s sexual predatory ability, describing there to be “hundreds of children who Barry Bennell cherry-picked for various football teams”.
It was not uncommon for boys to be invited, unchaperoned, back to Bennell’s house. He was a master manipulator and talking to Sportsmail last year, Woodward said, “He (Bennell) had the ability to infiltrate families. He did it for many years and he mastered that approach. He was so convincing. He's an intelligent man and he used that intelligence to manipulate families. Once he was in, that was it, he wasn't coming out.'
The severity and magnitude of Bennell’s unchallenged behaviour and abhorrent abuse is still to become fully evident.
Our abuse team led by Natalie Marrison has a wealth of experience and knowledge working with these particular types of cases. Her and the team will work sensitively with you to access compensation, following failings by authorities who protect our vulnerable members of society. For a completely confidential discussion please contact the Ramsdens Abuse team on 0113 8871 834.