Premier League club boss’ identity to remain hidden in historical child sex abuse case
THE identity of a Premier League club boss will remain hidden after he was accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.
A civil case has been launched against him by the alleged victim for aggravated damages.
The judge in the case granted the football figure anonymity – meaning his name will stay out of legal documents.
Master Stevens, who sits as a judge in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, said this was necessary for the “administration of justice”.
She said she had considered human rights to private and family life, as well as freedom of expression, when making the decision.
Although privacy rules in the UK apply to identifying suspects in the early stages of a police probe, the media is usually allowed to report cases in court – including civil cases.
The ruling came after the football boss’ lawyers argued he should remain anonymous because of the potential harm naming him would have.
The alleged victim came forward in 2021 claiming she was raped at his home when she was 15.
But the man was not arrested and the case was left on file by the Crown Prosecution Service.
This was due to a legal irregularity that meant the woman had waited too long to report the claims.
Legislation at the time stated if the alleged offence took place between 1956 and 2004, and the complainant was a girl aged between 13 and 15, she had to make a report within a year.
Although this was scrapped when the 2003 Sexual Offences Act came into place, it still applied if the alleged incident took place in the previous 48 years.
Court papers seen by The Athletic state he “committed trespass to the claimant’s person (assault and battery) and intentionally inflicted injury”.
This is said to have caused the woman psychological harm, the documents say.
The case is separate to another historical rape allegation made by a different woman.
Police previously confirmed the well-known football figure was quizzed under caution last June regarding that claim.
The BBC previously revealed how the boss was still in his post despite being under criminal investigation.
The Met Police said previously: “On Thursday, September 23, 2021, the Met received a crime report regarding an historic rape allegation.
“On Monday, June 12, a man was interviewed under caution at a police station.’’
Further enquiries are being carried out in that case before a decision is made whether to charge him or take no further action.