This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Barry Bennell, the former football coach who is standing trial charged with multiple sex-abuse charges against children, has admitted seven counts of indecent assault against three boys.

Bennell, who was once the youth-team coach at Crewe Alexandra and previously involved in Manchester City’s junior system, entered guilty pleas to six charges relating to two boys, aged 11 to 14, after appearing via video-link at the beginning of his trial at Liverpool crown court.

At an earlier hearing, Bennell had issued his first guilty plea for indecent assault, committed against another boy, and that can also now be reported after restrictions were lifted by the recorder of Liverpool, Judge Clement Goldstone. The seven charges relate to offences committed between 1981 and 1991.



Bennell has been charged with a total of 55 offences: 42 counts of indecent assault, 11 of buggery and two of attempted buggery, all allegedly happening between 1979 and 1991.



He denies 48 counts relating to 11 complainants, aged eight to 15. The prosecution is due to begin its case on Tuesday in a trial scheduled to last eight to 11 weeks.



