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| Football coach Bob Higgins guilty of abusing trainees | Football coach Bob Higgins guilty of abusing trainees |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A former youth football coach who held "supreme power" over the futures of budding players has been found guilty of indecently assaulting boys. | A former youth football coach who held "supreme power" over the futures of budding players has been found guilty of indecently assaulting boys. |
| Bob Higgins sexually touched and groped 24 victims, most of them trainees at Southampton FC and Peterborough United, between 1971 and 1996. | Bob Higgins sexually touched and groped 24 victims, most of them trainees at Southampton FC and Peterborough United, between 1971 and 1996. |
| Bournemouth Crown Court heard his status as a "God-like" figure enabled his decades-long campaign of abuse. | Bournemouth Crown Court heard his status as a "God-like" figure enabled his decades-long campaign of abuse. |
| A jury found him guilty of 45 counts of indecent assault. | A jury found him guilty of 45 counts of indecent assault. |
| Higgins' conviction will allow a Football Association (FA) review into child sex abuse allegations to conclude its investigations, a spokesman said. | Higgins' conviction will allow a Football Association (FA) review into child sex abuse allegations to conclude its investigations, a spokesman said. |
| The independent review, led by Clive Sheldon QC, would continue working to establish what the clubs and the FA knew about Higgins. | The independent review, led by Clive Sheldon QC, would continue working to establish what the clubs and the FA knew about Higgins. |
| During Higgins' trial, prosecutors told the court the defendant was "idolised" by trainees, who viewed him as a mentor and father figure. | During Higgins' trial, prosecutors told the court the defendant was "idolised" by trainees, who viewed him as a mentor and father figure. |
| Victims said they were abused during post-exercise soapy massages, in Higgins' car while he played love songs on the stereo and at his home where he cuddled with boys on his sofa | Victims said they were abused during post-exercise soapy massages, in Higgins' car while he played love songs on the stereo and at his home where he cuddled with boys on his sofa |
| Adam Feest QC said Higgins had shown a "systematic and all-pervasive pattern of grooming behaviour" in gaining the trust of the boys and of their parents. | Adam Feest QC said Higgins had shown a "systematic and all-pervasive pattern of grooming behaviour" in gaining the trust of the boys and of their parents. |
| 'Keep quiet or risk losing everything' | 'Keep quiet or risk losing everything' |
| During his time as a coach, Bob Higgins worked with young footballers who would go on to become national heroes and household names. | During his time as a coach, Bob Higgins worked with young footballers who would go on to become national heroes and household names. |
| But others were not so fortunate. | But others were not so fortunate. |
| Some were haunted by their ordeals, and gave up on football entirely. | Some were haunted by their ordeals, and gave up on football entirely. |
| Such was Higgins hold over those he abused, many felt unable to say anything, even to close family members, for up to 30 years. | Such was Higgins hold over those he abused, many felt unable to say anything, even to close family members, for up to 30 years. |
| Read more: The 'star-maker' who abused young footballers | Read more: The 'star-maker' who abused young footballers |
| The allegations arose after the NSPCC set up a dedicated helpline for people who had encountered childhood abuse within football. | The allegations arose after the NSPCC set up a dedicated helpline for people who had encountered childhood abuse within football. |
| It was launched after a number of former footballers, including Billy Seymour, spoke on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme in November 2016. | It was launched after a number of former footballers, including Billy Seymour, spoke on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme in November 2016. |
| Higgins faced trial last year, but a retrial was ordered after jurors failed to reach verdicts on 48 counts of indecent assault. | |
| Mr Seymour, a Southampton youth player who went on to play for Coventry City and Millwall, waived his right to anonymity to speak publicly. | Mr Seymour, a Southampton youth player who went on to play for Coventry City and Millwall, waived his right to anonymity to speak publicly. |
| He gave evidence at last year's trial but was killed in a car crash in January before he could give evidence at the retrial. | He gave evidence at last year's trial but was killed in a car crash in January before he could give evidence at the retrial. |
| 'Arrogance and lies' | 'Arrogance and lies' |
| Quiet sobbing from the packed public gallery became audible as guilty verdicts were returned on all six counts relating to Mr Seymour. | Quiet sobbing from the packed public gallery became audible as guilty verdicts were returned on all six counts relating to Mr Seymour. |
| Higgins showed no emotion as the jury returned verdicts after more than 41 hours of deliberations. | Higgins showed no emotion as the jury returned verdicts after more than 41 hours of deliberations. |
| In a joint statement issued through police, his victims said: "Higgins's arrogance and lies have finally caught up with him. | In a joint statement issued through police, his victims said: "Higgins's arrogance and lies have finally caught up with him. |
| "When Bob Higgins returned to court eight weeks ago, he gave a clear message to us all with his continued refusal to accept responsibility for what he did to us as children. However, that message made us all stronger and more determined. | "When Bob Higgins returned to court eight weeks ago, he gave a clear message to us all with his continued refusal to accept responsibility for what he did to us as children. However, that message made us all stronger and more determined. |
| "At last, after all these years, we can finally get a sense of closure and try to move on from this nightmare." | "At last, after all these years, we can finally get a sense of closure and try to move on from this nightmare." |
| 'It doesn't disappear' | 'It doesn't disappear' |
| At Higgins' earlier trial, the single guilty count related to former Southampton junior player Greg Llewellyn. | At Higgins' earlier trial, the single guilty count related to former Southampton junior player Greg Llewellyn. |
| He was abused in the defendant's car around the time of his 14th birthday on their way to a training session. | He was abused in the defendant's car around the time of his 14th birthday on their way to a training session. |
| He said he had an "overwhelming sense of anger" afterwards and had punched Higgins during the practice. | He said he had an "overwhelming sense of anger" afterwards and had punched Higgins during the practice. |
| Now aged 50, he said the ordeal had "caused me many difficulties in relationships, marriage, none of those positive." | Now aged 50, he said the ordeal had "caused me many difficulties in relationships, marriage, none of those positive." |
| "It doesn't disappear because there are always circumstances or scenarios that remind you of what happened," he said. | "It doesn't disappear because there are always circumstances or scenarios that remind you of what happened," he said. |
| Although responsibility for the abuse lies with Higgins, Mr Llewellyn said Southampton FC could have done more to protect the young players. | Although responsibility for the abuse lies with Higgins, Mr Llewellyn said Southampton FC could have done more to protect the young players. |
| He said the coach's "total carte blanche control" allowed him to do things "that simply wouldn't happen today". | He said the coach's "total carte blanche control" allowed him to do things "that simply wouldn't happen today". |
| "I can't hold the club responsible but you have to point the finger and there was some negligence there but there was only one perpetrator," he said. | "I can't hold the club responsible but you have to point the finger and there was some negligence there but there was only one perpetrator," he said. |
| Det Ch Insp Dave Brown, of Hampshire Police, said Higgins' victims suffered "horrendous experiences" at the hands of a "predatory paedophile" | Det Ch Insp Dave Brown, of Hampshire Police, said Higgins' victims suffered "horrendous experiences" at the hands of a "predatory paedophile" |
| "He thrived on controlling and manipulating his victims and knowing that he held the career prospects of many young men in his hands." he said | "He thrived on controlling and manipulating his victims and knowing that he held the career prospects of many young men in his hands." he said |
| Police believe there could be more victims, who Det Ch Insp Brown urged to come forward. | Police believe there could be more victims, who Det Ch Insp Brown urged to come forward. |
| Higgins is due to be sentenced at a later date. | Higgins is due to be sentenced at a later date. |
| Southampton FC said it offered its "sympathy and support to any player who suffered any kind of abuse or harm while under our care". | Southampton FC said it offered its "sympathy and support to any player who suffered any kind of abuse or harm while under our care". |
| A statement said: "We have been working closely with the police, the FA and the Sheldon review for nearly three years to help to uncover the truth. | A statement said: "We have been working closely with the police, the FA and the Sheldon review for nearly three years to help to uncover the truth. |
| "While the offences cited are historic, the club is committed to constantly reviewing our current safeguarding provision to raise standards." | "While the offences cited are historic, the club is committed to constantly reviewing our current safeguarding provision to raise standards." |
| His is the latest in a string of high-profile prosecutions of former football coaches. | His is the latest in a string of high-profile prosecutions of former football coaches. |
| The FA also said its review was also awaiting the outcome of further investigations into allegations of abuse by Barry Bennell. | The FA also said its review was also awaiting the outcome of further investigations into allegations of abuse by Barry Bennell. |