Gary Speed, the former manager of the Welsh football team, was one of four men coached by Barry Bennell who went on to take their own lives, a court has heard.

A man who Bennell admitted abusing in 1998, when he was jailed for nine years, told Liverpool Crown Court he tried to contact the parents of Speed, who hanged himself in 2011 aged 42, to tell them about the abuse.

The victim said: "Four people from teams I have played with, with Bennell, have taken their own lives."

He added: "Whether they have taken their lives due to Barry solely I don't know, but all I know is how it's had an impact on me and how it could impact on other people: When people are breaking down on the phone, when people are on the verge of suicide, when you hear of people who have taken their own lives.”

The victim - who gave evidence from behind a screen - had said in court earlier this week that Mr Bennell told him "nobody would ever believe me" if he spoke out about the alleged abuse, adding: "He said this had happened to players playing professional football now."

He said on Wednesday he wanted to get in touch with Speed's parents because he had read in the paper that they had not been able to get closure because they had no explanation for his death.