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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Barry Bennell sentencing: Victims speak of ruined lives | Barry Bennell sentencing: Victims speak of ruined lives |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| As a boy, Chris Unsworth was raped and abused by Barry Bennell more than 100 times. | As a boy, Chris Unsworth was raped and abused by Barry Bennell more than 100 times. |
| On Monday, more than 30 years later, he was among the former youth football coach's victims able to tell Liverpool Crown Court of the devastation the experience has wreaked on their lives. | On Monday, more than 30 years later, he was among the former youth football coach's victims able to tell Liverpool Crown Court of the devastation the experience has wreaked on their lives. |
| Ex-Manchester City youth player Mr Unsworth said the horrors of his childhood led him to have a vasectomy years later. | Ex-Manchester City youth player Mr Unsworth said the horrors of his childhood led him to have a vasectomy years later. |
| He said he suffered an "overwhelming fear" of being unable to protect any children he had from paedophiles like Bennell. | He said he suffered an "overwhelming fear" of being unable to protect any children he had from paedophiles like Bennell. |
| "I could not risk the same horrendous abuse happening to them," he told the court ahead of Bennell's sentencing. | "I could not risk the same horrendous abuse happening to them," he told the court ahead of Bennell's sentencing. |
| The ex-coach, now 64, abused young boys on an "industrial scale" between 1979 and 1991 while working at clubs including Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra, his trial heard. | The ex-coach, now 64, abused young boys on an "industrial scale" between 1979 and 1991 while working at clubs including Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra, his trial heard. |
| So many people came to watch his sentencing that the courtroom did not have enough seats. A second room was opened to stream the hearing via a video link. | So many people came to watch his sentencing that the courtroom did not have enough seats. A second room was opened to stream the hearing via a video link. |
| Jason Dunford, who has previously spoken of the abuse he suffered, sat in there. | |
| So too did the relative of a man who says he was abused by Bennell as a child. | |
| He is yet to report what happened and may never do, the relative added. | |
| "But I had to be here," they said. | |
| 'Shattered' | 'Shattered' |
| One of those who did come forward and has now seen justice done told the court: "That monster decided it was fun to use me as a sex toy. He took my innocence, my virginity and my football career." | One of those who did come forward and has now seen justice done told the court: "That monster decided it was fun to use me as a sex toy. He took my innocence, my virginity and my football career." |
| "My dreams were shattered," another said, recounting the anxiety attacks and vivid flashbacks has experienced since. | "My dreams were shattered," another said, recounting the anxiety attacks and vivid flashbacks has experienced since. |
| "It is like it happened yesterday," he added. | "It is like it happened yesterday," he added. |
| The man said he had tried to hide the abuse from his family, likening it to trying to keep a secret behind a locked door. | The man said he had tried to hide the abuse from his family, likening it to trying to keep a secret behind a locked door. |
| "It was hell on earth trying to keep it there." | "It was hell on earth trying to keep it there." |
| He said he was physically sick when he finally decided to tell his parents in 2016 after police launched an investigation into Bennell's offending. | He said he was physically sick when he finally decided to tell his parents in 2016 after police launched an investigation into Bennell's offending. |
| Unable to get the words out, his wife had to tell them. | Unable to get the words out, his wife had to tell them. |
| "Sorry for not being a good dad," was his father's reply. | "Sorry for not being a good dad," was his father's reply. |
| The man spoke of using alcohol to numb the pain, while another said he had used drugs as a way of coping. | The man spoke of using alcohol to numb the pain, while another said he had used drugs as a way of coping. |
| After two-and-a-half years of being clean, he decided to come forward and report the abuse he suffered to the police. | After two-and-a-half years of being clean, he decided to come forward and report the abuse he suffered to the police. |
| "I soon relapsed," he added, saying: "The last 12 months have been hell. | "I soon relapsed," he added, saying: "The last 12 months have been hell. |
| "I feel Bennell and Crewe Alexander have stolen my life from me." | "I feel Bennell and Crewe Alexander have stolen my life from me." |
| Suicidal thoughts | Suicidal thoughts |
| Others told the court about the impact upon their families, their children and their friends. | Others told the court about the impact upon their families, their children and their friends. |
| Most had suffered depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. | Most had suffered depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. |
| Gary Cliffe, one of Bennell's victims who was prepared to waive his right to anonymity, also read an impact statement. | Gary Cliffe, one of Bennell's victims who was prepared to waive his right to anonymity, also read an impact statement. |
| "I have been a nervous wreck, depressive... my family have suffered as well," he said. | "I have been a nervous wreck, depressive... my family have suffered as well," he said. |
| After addressing the court he walked towards the dock where Bennell was sitting. | After addressing the court he walked towards the dock where Bennell was sitting. |
| "Barry, Barry, why?" he asked, before being ushered back to his seat. | "Barry, Barry, why?" he asked, before being ushered back to his seat. |
| Mr Cliffe did not get an answer. | Mr Cliffe did not get an answer. |
| Bennell was attending Liverpool Crown Court for the first time. He appeared via videolink from prison during his five-and-a-half week trial, because of medical problems. | Bennell was attending Liverpool Crown Court for the first time. He appeared via videolink from prison during his five-and-a-half week trial, because of medical problems. |
| Judge Clement Goldstone QC was told the former coach had lost part of his tongue after two separate operations - in 2004 and 2016 - to remove tumours. | Judge Clement Goldstone QC was told the former coach had lost part of his tongue after two separate operations - in 2004 and 2016 - to remove tumours. |
| He is now fed through a tube in his stomach, but no longer has cancer. | He is now fed through a tube in his stomach, but no longer has cancer. |
| "Shame" someone whispered in the public gallery. | "Shame" someone whispered in the public gallery. |
| The now grey-haired Bennell - seated in the dock dressed in a blue jumper and white polo shirt -stared at the floor as, one-by-one, his victims told of the anguish he had put them through. | The now grey-haired Bennell - seated in the dock dressed in a blue jumper and white polo shirt -stared at the floor as, one-by-one, his victims told of the anguish he had put them through. |
| Sentencing him, Judge Clement Goldstone QC described him as "sheer evil" and "the devil incarnate". | Sentencing him, Judge Clement Goldstone QC described him as "sheer evil" and "the devil incarnate". |
| His abuse, he added, had left a "psychological trail of destruction". | His abuse, he added, had left a "psychological trail of destruction". |
| After Bennell was jailed for 31 years, there was a muffled round of applause. | After Bennell was jailed for 31 years, there was a muffled round of applause. |
| Outside court, Micky Fallon, another victim in the case, said the 12 victims Bennell was sentenced for - the 12 "survivors" - had "looked evil in the face and smiled". | Outside court, Micky Fallon, another victim in the case, said the 12 victims Bennell was sentenced for - the 12 "survivors" - had "looked evil in the face and smiled". |
| "Barry Bennell, we have won," he added. | "Barry Bennell, we have won," he added. |