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A former soccer coach has pleaded guilty to seven child sex offences in the UK. Barry Bennell (63) entered guilty pleas to six counts of indecent assault at the beginning of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
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.
The ex-Crewe Alexandra coach 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 to relate to 11 complainants and are alleged to have happened in the 1970s and 1980s, when the alleged victims were boys aged between eight and 15.
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Bennell appeared via videolink in court wearing a grey jumper. A jury is expected to be selected for his trial later on Monday.
The seven charges Bennell admitted relate to three victims and happened between 1981 and 1991, when they were aged between 11 and 14.
PA