Former Lake District youth football coach jailed again for child sex offences
An ex-youth football coach has been jailed for historical child sex offences against a team member.
Prolific paedophile Anthony Pickering, 62, of the Windemere area in Cumbria, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to 13 years in prison for sexual assaults against the child in the 1970s and 80s.
Pickering had denied attempted rape and two counts of indecent assault on a boy, but was found guilty with the prosecution saying Pickering abused the trust placed in him by the child and by his parents.
He was already serving a prison sentence having been convicted twice of sexual assaults against young boys.
In 2018, Pickering received a five-year sentence in relation to sexual offences committed against seven young football players. The sentence was increased to nine years by the Court of Appeal.
Pickering was subsequently prosecuted again in 2020, in relation to further sexual assault charges and given a life sentence.
Sadly, sexual abuse by Pickering is not the only documented case of sexual abuse in football. According to the 2021, report by Clive Sheldon QC, there had been at least 240 suspects and 692 survivors who had been abused in football.
Bolt Burdon Kemp’s specialist Abuse Team have represented clients in a number of similar cases, including in claims against Blackpool FC, Manchester City FC and many other football clubs.
Police said Pickering’s most recent complainant came forward after the 2018 conviction. It shows it’s never too late to report abuse.
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