Former Newcastle youth coach found guilty of 36 sexual abuse charges

A football coach in Britain has been found guilty of committing 36 counts of sexual abuse against young men and boys over a 25-year period.

After a five-week trial, former Newcastle United youth team coach George Ormond was on Tuesday found guilty of committing the sexual offenses against 18 underage victims between 1973 and 1998.

The 62-year-old coached a grassroots football club in the 1970s and 80s before going on to work for Newcastle United's youth system in the 1990s.

Ormond "manipulated his position" and held out "glittering future" to young players, but could block their progress if they stood up against him, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

The court convicted the former coach of 35 counts of indecent assault and one of indecency against a child.

The victims, some of whom broke down and wept when giving their evidence, all said they kept silent for years about the abuse they had suffered.

“To many of his victims he was a figure of authority, trust and influence,” said Gary Buckley of the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Instead of nurturing and supporting them, he exploited his role to subject them to sexual abuse,” he added.

Ormond is remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this week. He had already been jailed for six years in 2002 for 12 indecent assaults on young players.

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