Kit Carson: Former coach dies in crash on day of abuse trial Published duration 8 January 2019

image copyright PA image caption Michael "Kit" Carson died in a car crash on the first day of a football sex abuse trial

Former youth football coach Michael "Kit" Carson has died in a car crash on the day he was due to stand trial on sex abuse charges.

Mr Carson, 75, of St Bartholomew's Court, Riverside, Cambridge, was accused of the sexual abuse of boys under 16, from 1978 to 2009.

His Mazda left the road and hit a tree at 09:45 GMT on Monday, police have said. He died at the scene.

Peterborough Crown Court was informed of his death on Tuesday morning.

Judge Matthew Lowe ruled that the case file be closed. Mr Carson's death will now be referred to the coroner.

Jeremy Benson QC, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant died yesterday morning."

image copyright Terry Harris image caption Mr Carson was killed when his car hit a tree on the A1303

Cambridgeshire Police said in a statement that Mr Carson was driving his red Mazda 3 when it left the road and went into a tree on the A1303 near Bottisham, about seven miles east of Cambridge.

No other vehicle or person was involved, a spokesman said.

The court heard that his body was later formally identified by his wife, Pauline Carson.

The former coach and scout had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing at Cambridge Crown Court to 12 counts of indecent assault and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Cambridgeshire Police said the allegations involved 11 victims, all boys under the age of 16.