Child sexual abuse in football: Barry Bennell victim Gary Cliffe says sufferers are being failed by criminal justice system

Child sexual abuse in football: Barry Bennell victim Gary Cliffe says sufferers are being failed by criminal justice system
As one of many, many victims of convicted sexual abuser Barry Bennell, Gary Cliffe has had to be patient in his fight for justice. But he fears numerous others will never find the same from a criminal justice system that cannot cope.Cliffe, who spent time in Manchester City’s junior teams as a child, was sexually abused by Bennell on the Maine Road pitch, and later, after Bennell left the club to work for Crewe, in his own bed as the now jailed coach was invited by Cliffe’s parents to stay round his house.Cliffe was one of Bennell’s victims who waived their anonymity to discuss the abuse he suffered after Andy Woodward’s interview with The Guardian in 2016.4

Andy Woodward’s emotional interview was the first of many which revealed the extent of Bennell’s abuse

The victims’ brave fight for justice has hit the headlines again, with Manchester City announcing a plan to compensate victims of child sexual abuse as part of a redress scheme.City’s review into Bennell’s actions also uncovered ‘serious allegations of child sex abuse in respect of another individual, John Broome’, according to a club statement.Despite City’s intentions to compensate victims, Cliffe has still not been approached by the Premier League club with offers, and he does not know of any victims to have been paid as of yet.Its a little bit sensationalist the figures that have been bandied about,” Cliffe told talkSPORT. “As far as Im concerned City have done a marvellous thing in terms of taking responsibility and accepting culpability.They were there throughout the trial every day, so Im delighted about that.

My football dreams were shattered by Barry Bennell – BBC News, my storey. https://t.co/PAMUchVKyP— gary cliffe (@garycliffe1) September 29, 2018

But this is still very much ongoing and there have been no offers, as such, for damages. But it is a start.As far as Im concerned no one has received a penny; I havent received a penny of damages.I think the main thing is its brilliant they [Man City] are speaking to us, which is in stark contrast to other clubs. Cliffe appears to be referring to Crewe when hitting out at ‘other clubs’ for their failure to work with victims. The Gresty Road club are not accepting liability for the crimes Bennell committed while working for them, and the club’s lawyers wrote to one victim to say there is ‘no reasonable explanation or justification’ for waiting as long as he did to report the abuse.4

Barry Bennell was jailed for 31 years for 50 counts of child sexual abuse last February

It is believed Crewe are tying to get Steve Walters’ legal case against the club thrown out on a technicality.Manchester City deserve praise for their willingness to interact with victims, Cliffe continues.I started this way back in 2015 and Ive had to be very patient. These things take time, just like the trial did.But it is great that they are finally sitting up and taking responsibility.They should be applauded for that.”4

Steve Walters (centre) was abused by Bennell while playing for Crewe in the 1980s – he is fighting a legal battle with the club for compensation

But, while City are actively helping the survivors of historical child sexual abuse, there is little hope for a number of victims when it comes to finding justice on legal grounds.Cliffe reveals almost 100 victims are still waiting for justice ‘through the criminal process’, and he advocates a change in the criminal justice system’s approach to mass reported cases.There are over 90 lads still waiting for justice through the criminal process,” he continued, “and my thoughts are with them.4

Cliffe bravely spoke out about the abuse he suffered in an interview with The Guardian

Theyll probably never get justice, which is an absolute scandal.Im a massive champion for changing mass reporting cases with the criminal justice system; as it stands at the moment it simply cannot cope and we do not have the wherewithal to sort this out.We need to sort this mass reporting out.

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