George Ormond: 'Predatory' Newcastle United youth football coach convicted of abusing boys over nearly 25 years
Police say paedophile threatened to ruin young players' future careers to keep them silent
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A “predatory” paedophile who used his position as a youth football coach to target boys has been convicted of sexual abuse spanning almost 25 years.
George Ormond assisted the training of Newcastle United’s youth team in the 1990s, as well as coaching at a prominent junior club and on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in a Newcastle school.
Newcastle Crown Court heard he used his power over his victims’ future football careers to prevent them from speaking out.
They came forward after ex-professional footballer Andy Woodward waived his anonymity to expose the abuse he suffered at the hands of another coach, Barry Bennell, who was himself jailed for 30 years in February.
Ormond was convicted of 35 counts of indecent assault and one of indecency, and cleared of one charge relating to an older Newcastle United player. He will be sentenced by Judge Edward Bindloss on Wednesday.
The trial saw 19 victims give evidence against the 62-year-old, who had previously been jailed for six years in 2002 for 12 indecent assaults on young players.
Detective Superintendent Mick Paterson described Ormond as a “prominent” football coach between 1975 and 1999. “He used that position to act as a predatory paedophile to abuse young men,” he added.
“He used that position to gain contact with young men who had dreams and aspirations of going on to have football careers and the insidious nature of that offending shattered the lives of almost 20 victims.”
Det Supt Paterson admitted there may have been a “missed opportunity” for police to detain Ormond in 1997, when a Newcastle United physio passed on a report of abuse from a former player.
Jurors were told that the physio communicated the information to a senior officer connected to match days at St James’ Park, but that the victim did not want to speak to police at the time.
“What we know is had that happened now, we are far more fleet of foot, we are far more skilled and we are far more robust in dealing with information and putting the jigsaw together,” Det Supt Paterson said.
“The landscape is very different now – [the Bennell scandal in] 2016 really was a watershed in terms of the confidence of victims coming forward and the way police are now structured to listen to historical sexual abuse allegations.
“We now have handpicked, specialist, trained officers who support victims coming forward so we can run investigations such as this.
“We have moved on significantly in terms of our ability to put predatory paedophiles like Ormond in front of the court.”
The detective said Ormond knew he had the power to shape promising footballers’ development, and he could block their progress if they spoke out against him.
“He is in complete denial, I think Ormond believes that what he did was acceptable and part of what happened in football,” he added.
Gary Buckley of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Ormond had exploited his role, adding: “To many of his victims he was a figure of authority, trust and influence. I would like to praise the bravery of the many victims who came forward to assist with both the investigation and prosecution.”
Children’s charity the NSPCC urged victims to come forward via its football abuse helpline on 0800 023 2642.
A spokesperson said: “This is the latest case of a football professional sickeningly exploiting his position of trust to sexually abuse young boys who dreamed of a career in the sport. Many of his victims suffered in silence for years out of fear they would not be believed but their immense courage in speaking out has now helped bring their abuser to justice.”
Newcastle United declined to comment but the club said they have fully cooperated with police and FA enquiries.
Additional reporting by PA