Former football coach Barry Bennell pleads guilty to child sex offences

Former football coach Barry Bennell has pleaded guilty to seven child sex offences at Liverpool Crown Court.

The 63-year, ex-Crewe Alexander coach admitted six offences on the first day of his trial, which is expected to last eight weeks.

A reporting restriction on a guilty plea to a charge of indecent assault entered by Bennell at an earlier hearing was lifted by Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC.

Bennell, who was charged under the name Richard Jones, is still due to stand trial for 48 offences including 35 counts of indecent assault, 11 counts of buggery and two counts of attempted buggery.

The charges he will stand trial on relate to 11 complainants and allegedly took place in the 1970s and 1980s, when the alleged victims were boys aged between eight and 15.

Bennell entered the pleas when he appeared via videolink in court wearing a grey jumper.

A jury is expected to be sworn in for his trial on the outstanding charges later on Monday.