Ex-football coach faces sex abuse charges

Former Crewe Alexandra football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight further counts of historical child sexual abuse following an investigation by Cheshire Constabulary.

The 63-year-old is due to appear at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court via video-link on March 13 to face the charges, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.

The charges relate to two victims and are alleged to have taken place between 1980 and 1987.

Mr Bennell has been charged with five counts of buggery with a boy aged under 16, two counts of indecent assault on a boy aged under 14 and one count of indecent assault on a boy aged under 16.

The former coach, who also worked with Manchester City and Stoke City during his time in football, has previously been charged with seven counts of indecent assault on a boy and one count of attempted buggery.

Those offences were alleged to have happened between 1981 and 1986, when the victim was under the age of 16.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges at Chester Crown Court in January and was remanded in custody until a further hearing on March 20.

A CPS spokesperson added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Bennell are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.”