Solicitor Graduate, Abuse
George Blackstock and seven other former apprentice players are asking for a new investigation to take place into their allegations of abuse at Stoke City FC.
Speaking to the Times, George Blackstock said he had “suffered deeply” and still continues to suffer every day as a result of the abuse he experienced and the way in which it was handled.
As Abuse Solicitors, we know the devastating effects that suffering abuse as a child can have on people later in life. If you’ve experienced abuse in childhood, we could help you access support and compensation. Get in touch for a free no-obligation chat.
Staffordshire Police have confirmed that they are looking into allegations of historical abuse at Stoke City after receiving fresh complaints in 2022. But they have not yet confirmed if a previous case lodged by George Blackstock will be reopened.
George Blackstock has said on the matter, “I have said repeatedly that I will continue my fight for justice for myself and others who were affected at the club and I have done. Now other people have come forward with their own experiences of ‘the glove’, others have come forward as witnesses and more have come forward with their knowledge of what went on at Stoke FC at the time.”
‘The Glove’ is referred to by George Blackstock and the fellow six victims as a vicious act that was inflicted upon them during their time at the club in the 1970s and 80s. The men claim they were forced to lie down, or be held down, and degraded by having a goalie’s glove covered in Deep Heat and inserted into their bottoms, or rubbed on their genitals. This was also used on youth players according to George Blackstock if their duties had not been carried out correctly.
In 2010 the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue a prosecution over Mr Blackstock’s claims because it was not believed at the time the case could be proved beyond reasonable doubt – but him and others are pushing the police to reopen the investigation, as since his original report, there have been additional victims and witnesses that have come forward.
Staffordshire Police have stated that “investigations of this nature remain under scrutiny and if new information becomes available it is to be examined in the context of the overall case.”
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Competitive sports such as gymnastics can involve tough training regimes, which can sadly mean that signs of abuse can go unnoticed, and many victims can be reluctant to speak out as they’re worried about it affecting their career prospects.
Michael Green, who is now 80 years old, was already serving a prison sentence for sexual offences when he was found guilty of further abuse towards young boys as far back as fifty years ago.
Manchester City Football Club has launched a new redress scheme to award compensation to victims of historical child sexual abuse, in what’s the first move of its kind in British sport.
The Times. (n.d.). Stoke City: Police Urged to Investigate Abuse Which Left Young Players Traumatized. [Online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stoke-city-police-urged-to-investigate-abuse-which-left-young-players-traumatised-xbvwp6tkr
Belfast Live. (2021, June 15). Stoke City FC Centre Child Abuse: Police Could Reopen Investigation After New Allegations. [Online] Available at: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/stoke-city-fc-centre-child-20834825
The Times. (n.d.). Stoke City Abuse Allegations: "I Dreamed of Being a Star. Decades On, I Am Still Suffering." [Online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stoke-city-abuse-allegations-i-dreamed-of-being-a-star-decades-on-i-am-still-suffering-ndrzx68mn
BBC News. (2015, July 16). Stoke City Football Club: Five Men Arrested in Sex Abuse Inquiry. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-33555987
Simpson Millar. (2016, May 24). Victims of Paedophile Barry Bennell Urged to Get Legal Advice. [Online] Available at: https://www.simpsonmillar.co.uk/media/abuse-claims/victims-of-paedophile-barry-bennell-urged-to-get-legal-advice/
The Times. (n.d.). Complaints Over Police Investigation into Alleged Abuse at Stoke. [Online] Available at: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/complaints-over-police-investigation-into-alleged-abuse-at-stoke-rs3fxctnp
Kate works as a Solicitor Graduate Apprentice in our Abuse Claims Department, with a goal to qualify as a Solicitor in 2024.
After completing her education at Leeds Beckett University in 2018, Kate decided to specialise in Abuse Claims. Within this department, she has gained experience dealing with Civil Claims against various institutions including local authorities, public schools, religious institutions and charitable organisations. This includes the Manchester Homes 2 Group Action and the claims against Manchester City Council for abuse at St Anne’s School. Kate has also successfully navigated claims through the Lambeth and Manchester City Redress Schemes.
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