Former football coach Barry Bennell has denied eight child abuse offences in a UK court. Bennell, 63, appeared via videolink at Chester Crown Court from Woodhill Prison, answered “not guilty” to all the charges as they were put to him.<\/p>\n
The former Crewe Alexandra coach denies seven counts of indecent assault on a boy and one count of attempted buggery.<\/p>\n
All the offences are alleged to have happened between 1981 and 1986, when the victim was under the age of 16.<\/p>\n
Around 30 members of the media sat in the press benches for the brief hearing.<\/p>\n
Owen Edwards, prosecuting, told the court: “I have had an opportunity to speak to the complainant; at the moment he preserves his anonymity.”<\/p>\n
Judge Roger Dutton reminded the press and members of the public in court that any identification of the alleged complainant “will be treated very seriously” by the courts.<\/p>\n
Bennell worked as a coach for Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, Stoke and junior teams in England during his career in football.<\/p>\n
Source: \u00a0rte.ie<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"