Barry Bennell Illness: What Happened? Barry Bennell, a notorious paedophile football coach, passed away in his prison cell at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire on September 16, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Bennell, who was 69 at the time of his death, had been serving a 34-year sentence for a series of child sex offences. His legal name was Richard Jones, under which the inquest was conducted.
Barry Bennell Illness: Did He Die Of Cancer?
Barry Bennell, did indeed die of cancer. Bennell had a history of throat cancer dating back to 2004, with a recurrence in 2016. A biopsy in early 2023 led to a diagnosis of cancer of the tonsils, and at the time of his death, he was receiving palliative care.
Bennell was unable to speak and had to communicate through writing. He was fed with a tube, and his condition was described as having a “significant amount of pain,” which was managed by the healthcare team at the prison. In late July 2023, Bennell’s speech started deteriorating, and he was discharged from Hinchingbrooke Hospital against medical advice on September 12, just four days before his death. On September 14, he became confused but declined to seek medical help.
Bennell’s criminal history is extensive, with convictions for sexual offences against numerous young boys. He was first jailed in Florida in 1994 for raping a British boy on a football tour in America, followed by prison sentences in Britain in 1998, 2015, 2018, and 2020. After his convictions in 2018, more than 80 other alleged victims came forward to report abuse by him. Bennell was described as “the devil incarnate” by a sentencing judge, who noted that he stole the childhoods and innocence of his victims.
The inquest concluded that Bennell’s death was a result of natural causes, with bilateral bronchopneumonia and squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx as contributing factors. A report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman confirmed that the care Bennell received was of a “good standard and equivalent to that he would have received in the wider community”.
Bennell’s career in football was marked by his coaching roles at Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, and Stoke City, as well as his work as a scout for Manchester City. Despite his criminal record, Bennell’s contributions to football were significant, highlighting the complexities of dealing with individuals who have both talent and a dark side.
What were the specific child sex offences that Bennell was convicted for?
Barry Bennell was convicted for a series of child sexual offences against boys he coached. The specific offences included:
- Buggery: This refers to sexual intercourse with a male, which Bennell was convicted of three counts of against two boys at an earlier hearing.
- Indecent Assault: Bennell was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault against two boys, which occurred between 1979 and 1988 when the victims were aged between 11 and 14.
- Indecent Assault and Buggery: In 2018, Bennell was convicted of 52 child sexual offences against 12 boys, including offences committed at his homes in Crewe and Furness Vale, Derbyshire, as well as at children’s home Taxal Edge.
- Non-recent Sexual Offences: In 2020, Bennell pleaded guilty to nine non-recent sexual offences against two complainants, which were carried out between 1979 and 1988.
These convictions were part of a larger pattern of abuse that spanned several decades, with Bennell being first jailed in Florida in 1994 for raping a British boy on a football tour in America. He faced further prison sentences in Britain in 1998, 2015, and 2018, with the 2018 conviction being the most significant, involving 52 offences against 12 boys[ Source].
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