Abuse scandal: Former youth trainer sentenced to 24 years in prison

Former youth coach Bob Higgins has been sentenced to 24 years in prison by a Winchester court in the English football abuse scandal.

The verdict stated that Higgins was a “king maker” who abused his position of power over the young players’ future careers to use them for his own sexual needs. “Some of the boys idolized you and did everything they could to make their dreams of becoming a professional footballer come true,” said Judge Peter Crabtree.

Higgins was the subject of a police investigation after disclosures about sexual abuse of young footballers in clubs across the UK were made public in 2016.

Last year, the former youth coaches George Ormond and Barry Bennell had already been sentenced to long prison terms.