![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/football\/football-thumb\/football-thumb.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Former football coach and serial paedophile Barry Bennell has died in prison, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.<\/p>\n
The former Crewe Alexandra coach, 69, was serving a 34-year sentence after being convicted of a number of child sex offences.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: \u201cPrisoner Barry Bennell died at HMP Littlehey on September 16.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, was jailed for 30 years in 2018 after being convicted of 52 child sexual offences against 12 boys.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/11\/30\/15\/GettyImages-1388382959%20copy.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2022\/12\/01\/03\/GettyImages-1245251240.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
He was ordered to serve an additional four years in 2020 after pleading guilty to other offences against two boys.<\/p>\n
Bennell had suffered from cancer for a number of years and had operations to remove tumours from his tongue in 2004 and 2016, although he was said to be in remission in 2020.<\/p>\n
His cause of death has not been disclosed.<\/p>\n
He was serving his sentence at HMP Littlehey, near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire, a prison which is for men convicted of sex offences.<\/p>\n
When he was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court in 2018, Recorder of Liverpool Judge Clement Goldstone QC said he \u201cmay well die in prison\u201d.<\/p>\n
His final prison sentence, in 2020, was the fifth time he had been jailed.<\/p>\n
At that hearing, the court was told he had a detached retina after being attacked in prison and was in remission from cancer.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/mobile-stores\/Amazon_Prime.svg\")
<\/p>\n
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video<\/p>\n
Sign up now for a 30-day free trial<\/p>\n
Bennell, a former Manchester City scout, abused boys he coached in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.<\/p>\n
Bennell was first jailed in Florida in 1994 for raping a British boy on a football tour in America, before going on to face prison sentences in Britain in 1998, 2015, 2018 and 2020.<\/p>\n
Following his convictions in 2018, more than 80 other alleged victims came forward to report abuse by him.<\/p>\n
At his sentencing hearing in 2020, Owen Edwards, prosecuting, said the case would be the final prosecution after a decision to proceed only with cases involving the most serious offences.<\/p>\n
He said Bennell was responsible for \u201cindustrial sexual abuse of boys\u201d, as well as being instrumental in forging the careers of several international footballers.<\/p>\n
In court during his 2018 trial, Bennell\u2019s victims told how he had a \u201cpower hold\u201d over them as they dreamed of becoming professional footballers.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/18\/17\/acd4461a186667cc0a9c148d7cfce0d4Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk1MTM5Mzky-2.73766179.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/18\/16\/48ffbd93767262468e9e36099b2549ddY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk1MDMyNjU1-2.71946759.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/09\/18\/15\/e1d012f1ac5dad9c76d90d21ce4a75c0Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjk1MTMzMjEy-2.73776646.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
He was said to have been treated like \u201cGod\u201d at Manchester City\u2019s Maine Road ground.<\/p>\n
He abused the boys at his homes, where he had arcade games and exotic pets including a puma and a monkey, but also on trips away and in his car while on the way to and from training.<\/p>\n