[A] MAN who sexually abused seven young players while he was a Lake District football coach has been jailed for five years.
Anthony Pickering, 56, molested boys – the youngest of whom was aged just eight or nine – before or after training sessions more than 30 years ago. Pickering targeted one while giving him lifts home. He threatened another, vowing to report him for shoplifting if he revealed the sexual misconduct.
Pickering – known as Tony – denied 10 indecent assault charges, but was convicted, unanimously, of all offences by a jury following a trial last month. Jurors heard Pickering was convicted of indecently assaulting two other boys in similar circumstances by a general court martial in Germany in 1995 while serving with the Army.
And at his Carlisle Crown Court sentencing hearing today (THURS), it emerged Pickering, formerly of Claife Avenue, Windermere, is currently serving a 10-year jail term – handed down in 2012 for sexually assaulting a young girl in West Yorkshire.
One of Pickering’s Lakes victims said in an impact statement: “At the time of the incident I was messed up. I was young. I was terrified to tell anyone. I didn’t realise at the time it was happening to anyone else. I thought I was the only victim.”
Jailing Pickering, Judge James Adkin observed the defendant had shown “no remorse”. “Those boys looked up to you, and to abuse them for your own sexual gratification is a gross breach of trust,” said Judge Adkin. “This was a committed course of sexual misconduct against a vulnerable group of boys.”
Detective Inspector Helen Curme, South Cumbria Crime and Safeguarding Team, said: “I commend the victims who were brave enough to report the offences against them and see this through the judicial process.
“Pickering abused his position as a youth football coach to sexually assault young boys. I am glad that he has been brought to justice for his crimes and I hope that this can bring some form of closure to his victims.
“Cumbria Constabulary remains committed to investigating offences of this nature, no matter when they happened, and no matter what the role, position and status of the alleged offender.
“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.”
If you wish to report a crime or speak to an officer about an incident, please contact Cumbria Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
If you have been affected by rape or sexual assault, contact The Bridgeway Sexual Assault Support Service’s 24/7 free helpline on 0808 118 6432.
