Football coach Barry Bennell charged with eight child sex offences

Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police relating to allegations of historic child sexual abuse.

Bennell, 62, was a former youth coach at Crewe Alexandra and had links with Manchester City and Stoke football clubs.

The offences are alleged to have been committed between 1981 and 1985, and include 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 14 December.

In a statement, 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."