Barry Bennell, Former Youth football Coach, charged with eight Sexual offences against a boy aged under 14

Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with child sex offences, prosecutors announced today. The 62-year-old is accused of eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14. The Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police in September relating to allegations of child sexual abuse involving Bennell.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between 1981 and 1985. Bennell has now been charged with five counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 14, two counts of inciting a boy under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, and one count of assault with intent to commit buggery. He is due to appear at South Cheshire Magistrates' Court on December 14.

A spokesman for the CPS said, 'On 27 September 2016, the Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police relating to allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse involving a former football coach, Barry Bennell.

'Following a review of the evidence, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, Mr Bennell, 62, has today been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14. Bennell previously worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke as well as junior teams in north-west England and the Midlands.

The CPS spokesman added, 'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Bennell will now begin and that he has a right to a fair trial. 'It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'