Former football coach Barry Bennell charged with eight offences of sexual assault of boy under 14

Former Crewe Alexandra football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight sexual assault offences of a boy under the age of 14, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Bennell, 62, was a coach in the north west for decades and has this month been at the centre of a string of allegations of abuse from a number of former players. And today the CPS said in a statement:

“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. “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.”

Last week Bennell was rushed to hospital after he was found unconscious at an address in Stevenage. https://twitter.com/PA/status/803644047990681604 More to follow.