Former footballer who was abused by paedophile coach Barry Bennell urges victims whose cases were dropped not to give up on justice

Former footballer David Lean was abused by coach Barry Bennell in 1980.

His case was referred in 2013 to the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel (CSARP), a joint enterprise between the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and resulted in Bennell being charged.

He pleaded guilty in April 2015 to two counts of indecent assault on a male under the age of 14, and two counts of enticing a boy under the age of 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment for these offences.

Mr Lean has now spoken on camera about the importance of pushing for justice, describing how survivors who see their cases dropped can live with "bitterness" for years and struggle to move on.

“Without the panel, there wouldn’t have been a second look at my case," Mr Lean said.

"There is no guarantee that your case will be reinvestigated and yes, it will be difficult, but it could change your life. It changed my life.”

He added: “If you are not able to move on because you have this anger, this bitterness inside you from your case being dropped five, six years ago or longer, I would recommend you go through this system."

It comes as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) investigates organised networks of abuse this week, with evidence heard from survivors of abuse networks such as grooming gangs.

Since the CSARP was set up in 2013, some 184 cases have been referred with 78 per cent of these (143) reinvestigated by the police or reconsidered by the CPS.

Of the cases which were reconsidered, 20 per cent (29) resulted in someone being charged.

Another 14 cases (10 per cent) remain live investigations.

NPCC lead for Child Protection, Chief Constable Simon Bailey, said: “Policing has made mistakes in the past and we recognise that some victims and survivors may feel that they have been previously failed. However, the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel seeks to give those victims and survivors the opportunity to get the justice they deserve – as David Lean says in the film, the impact can be life-changing."

He added: “It is really encouraging that 78 per cent of cases being referred to the panel are being reinvestigated or reconsidered by police and CPS, ensuring the case is examined again to present day standards. Whilst some cases do not result in a charging decision, it is crucial that victims and survivors feels they have been listened to and provided with an explanation regarding why the case cannot proceed.”

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