This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/barry-bennell-hospital-paedophile-football-coach-premier-thames-valley-police-a7443591.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Paedophile football coach Barry Bennell 'taken to hospital after being found unconscious' | Paedophile football coach Barry Bennell 'taken to hospital after being found unconscious' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Barry Bennell is believed to be in hospital after police were called to his hotel on Friday night following reports of a "fear for welfare incident". | Barry Bennell is believed to be in hospital after police were called to his hotel on Friday night following reports of a "fear for welfare incident". |
| Thames Valley Police, who are investigating new sex abuse claims made against the convicted paedophile, said they had been called to an address in Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday. | Thames Valley Police, who are investigating new sex abuse claims made against the convicted paedophile, said they had been called to an address in Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday. |
| “A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital to receive medical treatment, where he remains,” said a police force spokesperson. | “A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital to receive medical treatment, where he remains,” said a police force spokesperson. |
| Mr Bennell was reportedly found unconscious and not breathing at the Novotel Hotel, according to local newspaper The Comet. | |
| The police refused to confirm or deny whether Mr Bennell was involved or give details of the nature of the incident. | The police refused to confirm or deny whether Mr Bennell was involved or give details of the nature of the incident. |
| “Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday in connection with a fear for welfare incident," said the spokesperson. | “Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday in connection with a fear for welfare incident," said the spokesperson. |
| Mr Bennell worked for Crewe, Leeds United, Manchester City and Stoke City football clubs from the 1970s onwards. In 1994, Bennell was given a four-year sentence for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida. | Mr Bennell worked for Crewe, Leeds United, Manchester City and Stoke City football clubs from the 1970s onwards. In 1994, Bennell was given a four-year sentence for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida. |
| In 1998, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for 23 charges of sexual abuse against six boys. | In 1998, he was sentenced to nine years in prison for 23 charges of sexual abuse against six boys. |
| And he was jailed a third time in 2015 after pleading guilty to abusing a boy at a football camp in Macclesfield in 1980. | And he was jailed a third time in 2015 after pleading guilty to abusing a boy at a football camp in Macclesfield in 1980. |
| Following former professional footballer Andy Woodward coming forward to talk of his alleged abuse at the hands of Bennell, a string of fellow footballers have discussed their own alleged abuse. | |
| Former Manchester City youth football player Jason Dunford, who said Bennell attempted to touch in him at a Butlins holiday camp, said the scandal was bigger than that surrounding Jimmy Savile. | |
| He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme: “I believe there was a conspiracy and paedophile ring. | |
| “I think Savile looks like a choirboy compared to this fella. | |
| “There were people at those clubs who had a duty to look after boys coming through their system.” | |
| Chris Unsworth, 44, a former Crewe youth player, has also made allegations against Bennell and accused the club of turning a blind eye, telling Victoria Derbyshire it was “swept under the carpet”. | |
| Former England and Manchester City players David White and Paul Stewart and former Crewe Alexandra player Steve Walters have also spoken out about being sexually abused by football coaches. |