This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-46098908
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Celtic Boys Club founder Jim Torbett guilty of abusing boys | Celtic Boys Club founder Jim Torbett guilty of abusing boys |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Celtic Boys Club founder Jim Torbett has been jailed for six years after being convicted of sexually abusing three boys over an eight-year period. | Celtic Boys Club founder Jim Torbett has been jailed for six years after being convicted of sexually abusing three boys over an eight-year period. |
| Torbett, 71, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He had denied the charges. | Torbett, 71, was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He had denied the charges. |
| Two victims had been in his under-14s football teams, while the third was abused by Torbett at the age of five. | Two victims had been in his under-14s football teams, while the third was abused by Torbett at the age of five. |
| Lord Beckett told Torbett: "You groomed boys and contrived situations when you could abuse them | |
| "Yours is some of the most corrupting behaviour I have ever heard of in these courts." | |
| He added: "Your depraved conduct towards innocent children has blighted their lives." | |
| The judge told Torbett that Celtic Boys Club had given opportunities to hundreds of aspiring young footballers. | The judge told Torbett that Celtic Boys Club had given opportunities to hundreds of aspiring young footballers. |
| But he added: "You used the club as a front for child sexual abuse." | But he added: "You used the club as a front for child sexual abuse." |
| There were tears in the public gallery as the verdict was announced, and emotional scenes in the foyer of the court as those affected by the case embraced each other. | There were tears in the public gallery as the verdict was announced, and emotional scenes in the foyer of the court as those affected by the case embraced each other. |
| Torbett, of Kelvindale, Glasgow, was found guilty of five abuse charges between August 1986 and August 1994. | Torbett, of Kelvindale, Glasgow, was found guilty of five abuse charges between August 1986 and August 1994. |
| Torbett had previously been jailed for two years in 1998 for abusing three young Celtic Boys Club players between 1967 and 1974. | Torbett had previously been jailed for two years in 1998 for abusing three young Celtic Boys Club players between 1967 and 1974. |
| He had been living in California when the further allegations of abuse came to light. | He had been living in California when the further allegations of abuse came to light. |
| Victim, Kenny Campbell, broke his silence in a BBC documentary, Football Abuse: The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game. | Victim, Kenny Campbell, broke his silence in a BBC documentary, Football Abuse: The Ugly Side of the Beautiful Game. |
| A month after the documentary was broadcast, the BBC tracked Torbett down to California and put the claims to him in a dramatic confrontation. | A month after the documentary was broadcast, the BBC tracked Torbett down to California and put the claims to him in a dramatic confrontation. |
| Within hours of that footage being broadcast, Torbett was escorted to the airport by US Homeland Security and he was arrested on his return to Scotland. | Within hours of that footage being broadcast, Torbett was escorted to the airport by US Homeland Security and he was arrested on his return to Scotland. |
| During the trial, Mr Campbell told jurors how he played for Celtic Boys Club when he was 14. | During the trial, Mr Campbell told jurors how he played for Celtic Boys Club when he was 14. |
| He said Torbett - who was also the manager - had been his "hero" and that he would have "run through walls for him". | He said Torbett - who was also the manager - had been his "hero" and that he would have "run through walls for him". |
| However, he said Torbett then went on to abuse him, including one attack while on a Celtic Boys Club trip to Noyon in France. | However, he said Torbett then went on to abuse him, including one attack while on a Celtic Boys Club trip to Noyon in France. |
| A second victim, Andrew Gray, died last year following a swimming pool accident in Australia. | A second victim, Andrew Gray, died last year following a swimming pool accident in Australia. |
| However, statements he gave to police before his death were read out during the trial. | However, statements he gave to police before his death were read out during the trial. |
| The 41-year-old had told officers he was first abused by Torbett after training, and that he had not known what was happening. | The 41-year-old had told officers he was first abused by Torbett after training, and that he had not known what was happening. |
| He told police: "I can still remember lying in bed that night thinking: 'Is that how adults act?'." | He told police: "I can still remember lying in bed that night thinking: 'Is that how adults act?'." |
| Mr Gray said he was also attacked in Torbett's Glasgow flat, and that he would be dropped from the team if he did not agree to his demands. | Mr Gray said he was also attacked in Torbett's Glasgow flat, and that he would be dropped from the team if he did not agree to his demands. |
| His sister, Michelle Gray, told BBC Scotland it was important to get "justice" for her brother - and for Torbett to "know the pain and suffering that he caused Andrew". | His sister, Michelle Gray, told BBC Scotland it was important to get "justice" for her brother - and for Torbett to "know the pain and suffering that he caused Andrew". |
| The final victim, now aged 35, told the trial how he was abused at the Trophy Centre business which Torbett ran in the Pollokshaws area of Glasgow. | The final victim, now aged 35, told the trial how he was abused at the Trophy Centre business which Torbett ran in the Pollokshaws area of Glasgow. |
| He said he was attacked while on his own with Torbett. | He said he was attacked while on his own with Torbett. |
| Torbett had branded the victims "liars" and said allegations were like "something out of fairytales". | Torbett had branded the victims "liars" and said allegations were like "something out of fairytales". |
| 'Vindicated' | |
| Outside the High Court, Mr Campbell described the verdict as "unbelievable". | |
| Asked how he felt, he said: "Ecstatic. Relieved. Vindicated." | |
| Mr Campbell said he was grateful to BBC journalists Mark Daly and Calum McKay for investigating Torbett. | |
| He added: "The worst thing about being an abuse victim, a survivor, or whatever you want to call them, is the fear of not being believed. | |
| "Even right up to the verdict was announced I had the fear that I would not be believed." | |
| Mr Campbell, who has four grandsons, added: "I'll walk away a proud man. | |
| "I'll know I've made a difference and I'll know it has been worthwhile." | |
| 'Callous and depraved' | 'Callous and depraved' |
| Det Ch Insp Sarah Taylor, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: "Torbett was a predator who used football to allow him access to young boys. | Det Ch Insp Sarah Taylor, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: "Torbett was a predator who used football to allow him access to young boys. |
| "These were boys who had a dream, they wanted to play professional football. Torbett was a man in a position of trust but he betrayed that trust. | "These were boys who had a dream, they wanted to play professional football. Torbett was a man in a position of trust but he betrayed that trust. |
| "He preyed on these boys, he exploited their dreams and he subjected them to callous and depraved abuse. | "He preyed on these boys, he exploited their dreams and he subjected them to callous and depraved abuse. |
| "I have no doubt that he exerted control over the boys in his care and coerced them with promises and lies." | "I have no doubt that he exerted control over the boys in his care and coerced them with promises and lies." |
| Det Chief Insp Taylor praised the courage of the victims who helped bring Torbett to justice. | Det Chief Insp Taylor praised the courage of the victims who helped bring Torbett to justice. |
| She added: "Reporting these offences and reliving the experience can be traumatic. | She added: "Reporting these offences and reliving the experience can be traumatic. |
| "We understand this and we will do everything in our power to bring investigations to the appropriate outcome." | "We understand this and we will do everything in our power to bring investigations to the appropriate outcome." |