Celtic Boys Club manager 'stuffed banknotes in boy's mouth'

[ian1964 10,721]

An ex-youth footballer claimed a former Celtic Boys Club manager stuffed hundreds of pound notes into his mouth while he abused him.

The witness, now 46, said James Torbett sexually assaulted him when he played for the under-14 team.

Mr Torbett, 71, denies a total of nine offences of sexual abuse committed between 1985 and 1994.

The offences are alleged to have occurred in his Mercedes and at various addresses in Glasgow, London and Noyon.

'£100 notes'

The man, who was a teenager at the time told the court Mr Torbett - who he knew as Jim - often gave him money.

He said: "Sometimes he would give you money. He would fit it into your mouth using his hand.

"One time it was £530. I remember going home with £100 notes in my pocket."

The man, who lives in the Glasgow area, also claimed that on a trip to Noyon in France with Celtic Boys Club Torbett did a" striptease" to music before abusing him.

'Striptease'

The witness, who is not being named, told prosecutor Sheena Fraser: "I was in my bed in a dormitory.

"Jim Torbett was standing there with a shirt and underpants on.

"He proceeded to do a striptease. He took his shirt off and was dancing."

The man claimed that the accused then summoned him to his room and abused him.

At times during his evidence the witness appeared upset.

Mr Torbett, from Glasgow, denies a total of nine offences of sexual abuse allegedly committed between August 1985 and August 1994.

'My hero'

Defence QC Tony Graham lodged a special defence of alibi in relation to a charge alleged to have taken place between June 1985 and June 1986.

During his evidence the man said: "Jim Torbett was my hero. I would have run through walls for him. I would have done anything he told me to do. I loved him."

The man said that he told no-one about the alleged abuse until 2015.

He added: "I had to get it out. It was killing me. I told my sister, but I swore her to secrecy."

The witness said that he also phoned Police Scotland and added: "They never came for a couple of days and I went into a huff and I told them lies."

He told the court this was because his mother was there when the police arrived.

Football trial

The witness said the alleged sexual abuse by Mr Torbett ended when he was 17 and began a relationship with a woman.

He told defence QC Tony Graham that he was only selected for Celtic Boys Club at his second attempt.

On the first occasion Jimmy "Jinky' Johnstone, who was described in court by Mr Graham as a Celtic great, got him a trial.

The witness said: "Jimmy Johnstone got me a trial for the under 12s. I did a six week trial and I was told I wasn't good enough."

On the second occasion the witness said he competed when he was 13 against 200 other boys for a place and was successful.

The trial, before judge Lord Beckett, continues.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-45953316?fbclid=IwAR1VTapRhY9lNrrcEWcT_yjJqWGMJHYqC1zHH5tR1DnwAifcf9UE6nt7Gp4

[ian1964 10,721]

 

[MacK1950 2,376]

Read the reports on the BBC/STV news sites but interestingly nothing on main news broadcasts.

[ian1964 10,721]

 

[MacK1950 2,376]

1 hour ago, ian1964 said:

 

Another anonymous/faceless claim.While I feel that ,as in this case the accused is known, and rightly being pursued in court.there are too many times where someone is being accused and the accuser remaining anonymous,and if the accused is found not guilty they have a stain on their character which IMO is the unfair part.

[MacK1950 2,376]

Guilty six years in jail sex offenders register for life RESULT ?

[craig 5,199]

15 minutes ago, MacK1950 said:

Guilty six years in jail sex offenders register for life RESULT ?

6 years isn't nearly enough for ruining the lives of multiple young boys.

[compo 7,034]

Should have got longer plus the red hot poker .

But will the rest be brought to trial because believe me there's more who were involved at that club time for the Scottish government to appoint an outside force to carry out a thourough investigation .

[ian1964 10,721]

28 minutes ago, compo said:

Should have got longer plus the red hot poker .

But will the rest be brought to trial because believe me there's more who were involved at that club time for the Scottish government to appoint an outside force to carry out a thourough investigation .

The Scottish government have already stated they only be investigating those kids who were abused when ''in care'', which rules out BHEAST FC! unless I am mistaken??

[BlackSocksRedTops 3,751]

I see the BBC news are still going with the "youth club in Glasgow" line.