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| 'Devil incarnate' Barry Bennell sentenced to 31 years | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ex-football coach Barry Bennell has been jailed for 31 years at Liverpool Crown Court for 50 counts of child sexual abuse. | |
| Bennell, described as the "devil incarnate" by the judge, was convicted of abusing 12 boys aged eight to 15 between 1979 and 1991. | Bennell, described as the "devil incarnate" by the judge, was convicted of abusing 12 boys aged eight to 15 between 1979 and 1991. |
| Judge Clement Goldstone QC said Bennell, 64, was "sheer evil". | Judge Clement Goldstone QC said Bennell, 64, was "sheer evil". |
| Half of the 31-year term will be served in custody and half on licence. | |
| Bennell shook his head as the judge sentenced him and there was clapping from the public gallery as he left court. | Bennell shook his head as the judge sentenced him and there was clapping from the public gallery as he left court. |
| "To those boys you appeared as a god... in reality you were the devil incarnate," Judge Goldstone said. | "To those boys you appeared as a god... in reality you were the devil incarnate," Judge Goldstone said. |
| "You stole their childhoods and their innocence." | "You stole their childhoods and their innocence." |
| Bennell remained impassive in the dock, staring at the floor, as victims' statements were read. | |
| He was ordered to attend Liverpool Crown Court for the hearing, having previously appeared via video-link throughout the five-week trial due to illness. | |
| The judge said Bennell, who worked at Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra, was "hell bent" on abusing boys, and left a "trail of psychological devastation". | The judge said Bennell, who worked at Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra, was "hell bent" on abusing boys, and left a "trail of psychological devastation". |
| "If the boys tried to resist you convinced them their football careers would suffer," he said. | "If the boys tried to resist you convinced them their football careers would suffer," he said. |
| Outside court, victim Andy Woodward said: "No sentence is long enough for that man and right to the death he didn't show any remorse or say sorry to anyone. | Outside court, victim Andy Woodward said: "No sentence is long enough for that man and right to the death he didn't show any remorse or say sorry to anyone. |
| "I'm proud that I did speak out. If I hadn't have done, we all wouldn't be stood here now today." | "I'm proud that I did speak out. If I hadn't have done, we all wouldn't be stood here now today." |
| Another victim, Micky Fallon, said: "Today we looked evil in the face and smiled because, Barry Bennell, we have won." | Another victim, Micky Fallon, said: "Today we looked evil in the face and smiled because, Barry Bennell, we have won." |
| Gary Cliffe, another victim, said: "We did not forget, we came after you Bennell and now you are in prison due to us." | |
| He urged other victims to come forward, saying: "The hurt is not yours to carry, it is his." | |
| And Chris Unsworth added: "This is a testament that love will always conquer evil." | |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| By John Harrison, BBC News, at Liverpool Crown Court | By John Harrison, BBC News, at Liverpool Crown Court |
| Bennell shook his head as the judge at Liverpool Crown Court detailed his horrific crimes. | Bennell shook his head as the judge at Liverpool Crown Court detailed his horrific crimes. |
| The ex-football coach had earlier listened to the impact statements of some of his victims. | The ex-football coach had earlier listened to the impact statements of some of his victims. |
| Some spoke of feeling suicidal. Two said they felt unable to have children after suffering abuse. | Some spoke of feeling suicidal. Two said they felt unable to have children after suffering abuse. |
| Others spoke about using drink and drugs to numb the mental anguish they suffered in later years. | Others spoke about using drink and drugs to numb the mental anguish they suffered in later years. |
| After reading out his statement, Gary Cliffe, one of Bennell's numerous victims, walked towards the dock asking: "Barry, Barry, why?" | After reading out his statement, Gary Cliffe, one of Bennell's numerous victims, walked towards the dock asking: "Barry, Barry, why?" |
| Bennell did not give him an answer. | Bennell did not give him an answer. |
| Earlier, victim impact statements were read to the court, with one saying Bennell "took his one and only childhood". | Earlier, victim impact statements were read to the court, with one saying Bennell "took his one and only childhood". |
| One statement, from a man abused when he was aged 12-13, said: "I did not want it, did not ask for it. That monster decided it was fun to use me as a sex toy." | One statement, from a man abused when he was aged 12-13, said: "I did not want it, did not ask for it. That monster decided it was fun to use me as a sex toy." |
| Bennell was previously convicted of of child abuse on three occasions. He received jail sentences in the UK and in the US in 1995, 1998 and 2015. | |
| He was ordered to attend Liverpool Crown Court for the hearing, having previously appeared via video-link throughout the five-week trial due to illness. | |
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