Barry Bennell sex abuse: Coach integral to Man City set-up, court told

Eight men who say they were abused by paedophile football coach Barry Bennell have begun a High Court damages case after suing Manchester City.

The men, now in their 40s and 50s, made damages claims and say Bennell sexually abused them when they played youth football in north-west England more than 30 years ago.

Bennell, 67, is serving a 34-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual offences against boys.

Manchester City dispute the claims.

Mr Justice Johnson began overseeing a trial at the High Court in London earlier.

A barrister representing the men told the judge the boys played for Manchester City feeder or nursery teams coached by Bennell.

James Counsell QC said the club had more than "vestigial control" over Bennell and the teams he was coaching.

"This is a claim where Manchester City had a direct interest and direct control of the feeder teams that it ran, and which Bennell coached on its behalf," he said.

"Bennell was integral to the Manchester City youth set-up, an important part of a recruitment process."

Bennell, who worked as a coach at Crewe Alexandra, is serving his sentence after being convicted of sexual offences against boys on five separate occasions - four in the UK and one in the US.

Lawyers say the trial is expected to last several weeks.

Bennell is expected to give evidence himself via videolink from prison on 6 December.

Details of the case emerged at preliminary hearings earlier this year.

Judges have heard that the eight men were sexually and emotionally abused by Bennell between 1979 and 1985 and are claiming damages after suffering psychiatric injuries.

Lawyers say some are also claiming damages for the loss of a chance to pursue a career as a footballer.

Judges have heard that a question at the centre of the case is whether Manchester City are "vicariously liable" for Bennell's actions.

The men say he worked as a scout for City and ran various youth feeder teams, mainly under-14s, on the club's behalf and for its benefit.

The men argue that the relationship between Bennell and the club was "one of employment or one akin to employment".

The club denies Bennell was an employee or in a relationship "akin to employment" at "the material times" and denies being vicariously liable.

However, the court heard that the Premier League champions are set to call Bennell to give evidence on their behalf on 6 December.

Mr Counsell said City had taken a "tactical decision" to call him and that it now based its defence "full square" on information received from one of Britain's "most notorious paedophiles".

"In this case, of course, the perpetrator of the abuse, Bennell, is still alive and, apparently, willing and able to give evidence," said the barrister in a written argument.

"The abuse is no longer an issue because it has been belatedly conceded, although what Bennell is now prepared to admit and how damaged his credibility will be by the answers he gives when he is asked remains to be seen."

Mr Counsell questioned how Bennell would "assist" Manchester City in "making out its case" and added: "If/when his evidence is rejected, it will not be because of the passage of time but because he is a wholly unreliable liar."

Michael Kent QC, who is leading City's legal team, suggested calling Bennell as a witness was the only option.

He said the club's former chief scout Ken Barnes had died and former club secretary Bernard Halford was also dead.

Judges have ruled that the men making claims cannot be identified in media reports of the case.

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