Barry Bennell: Former football coach denies 20 child sex offences

Former football coach Barry Bennell has denied 20 child sex offences.

Appearing at Chester Crown Court via video link from prison, the former Crewe Alexandra coach was charged with 14 counts of indecent assault, five counts of buggery and one count of attempted buggery.

The charges relate to four complainants who were boys under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged offences.

They are all alleged to have taken place between 1980 and 1987.

Bennell, 63, had already denied eight of the offences and repeated those denials as he was charged with 12 further offences.

The case was adjourned to 3 July when a hearing will take place at Liverpool Crown Court.

As Bennell was remanded in custody, the judge told him a trial was likely to start in January in Liverpool.

As well as Crewe, Bennell also worked as a coach for Manchester City, Stoke and junior teams in northwest England and the Midlands during his career.