[A] JURY has heard evidence from a number of men who allege they were sexually abused as young players by a Lake District football coach.
Anthony John Pickering, 56, is on trial at Carlisle Crown Court and denies a total of 10 charges. These allege Pickering indecently assaulted seven different boys, all aged under 14 at the time, more than three decades ago.
Today (THURS), jurors continued watching footage of interviews given by men to police.
One had told an officer he was abused “between 10 and 20” times – almost weekly – by Pickering before training sessions. A second alleged he was twice indecently assaulted by the coach during car journeys home.
Another spoke of being asked to wash footballs after a training session by Pickering who then, he said, approached from behind.
“Close behind me,” he told a police officer, “and tried to put his both of his hands down the front of my shorts”.
It was suggested to one man during cross-examination by Mohammed Rafiq, for Pickering – formerly of Claife Avenue, Windermere – that he was telling lies. But the man responded: “Everything I am telling you is true.”
Mr Rafiq also observed that the Lakes allegations had been made in the wake of recent “adverse publicity” surrounding football coaches which began in 2016.
But the witness stated: “The publicity might have encouraged me to come forward, but it didn’t convince me to suddenly fabricate it in my head.”
The trial continues.
