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Barry Bennell trial: Coach 'used Darth Vader grip' on witness | Barry Bennell trial: Coach 'used Darth Vader grip' on witness |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Barry Bennell used a "Darth Vader grip" to pin a youth footballer to a wall after he interrupted the former coach abusing a boy, a court has heard. | Barry Bennell used a "Darth Vader grip" to pin a youth footballer to a wall after he interrupted the former coach abusing a boy, a court has heard. |
Martin Clarke said he had seen Mr Bennell with one of his alleged sex abuse victims in the changing rooms at Crewe Alexandra's Gresty Road ground. | |
Liverpool Crown Court heard claims he threatened to "finish" Mr Clarke's football career if he told anyone. | |
Mr Bennell, 64, denies sexually abusing 11 boys between 1979 and 1990. | Mr Bennell, 64, denies sexually abusing 11 boys between 1979 and 1990. |
Mr Bennell, now known as Richard Jones, has admitted seven further charges of indecent assault. | Mr Bennell, now known as Richard Jones, has admitted seven further charges of indecent assault. |
Giving evidence in court, Mr Clarke said he returned to the ground after forgetting his football boots following a game and had "startled" Mr Bennell. | Giving evidence in court, Mr Clarke said he returned to the ground after forgetting his football boots following a game and had "startled" Mr Bennell. |
He said: "He jumped up, stormed at me and pinned me to the wall. If you can imagine Star Wars and Darth Vader, it was like a Darth Vader grip." | He said: "He jumped up, stormed at me and pinned me to the wall. If you can imagine Star Wars and Darth Vader, it was like a Darth Vader grip." |
Mr Clarke said the young boy ran out of the changing room and Mr Bennell then told him: "You have not seen anything. If you say anything to anyone I will make sure I will finish your football career here and now." | Mr Clarke said the young boy ran out of the changing room and Mr Bennell then told him: "You have not seen anything. If you say anything to anyone I will make sure I will finish your football career here and now." |
He told the jury that Mr Bennell had a "psychological hold" over him after that incident. | He told the jury that Mr Bennell had a "psychological hold" over him after that incident. |
The court also heard from an alleged victim of Mr Bennell who claims he was abused up to 100 times by the former coach, including in Gresty Road's changing rooms. | |
He also told the jury he was abused at Mr Bennell's home, a video shop which the coach owned and on a trip to Butlins. | |
In cross-examination by Eleanor Laws QC, defending, the complainant denied having discussions about claiming compensation, saying: "I don't think anything would compensate that anyway." | |
He did agree he wished to claim damages against Crewe and the Football Association. | |
But the complainant described as "ridiculous" the lawyer's suggestion that he had made up his claims "either for money or whatever reason". | |
The trial continues on Thursday. | The trial continues on Thursday. |
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