Staffordshire Police detective sexually abused by Barry Bennell urges victims to 'speak out'
A Staffordshire police detective who was sexually abused as a child by paedophile football coach Barry Bennell has said the best thing he ever did was "speak up".
Detective Constable Gary Cliffe was on his way to making his dreams of becoming a professional footballer true before his life was changed forever.
Between the ages of 11 and 15, he was abused by coach and convicted paedophile Bennell.
Gary is now speaking out and urging victims to come forward as part of Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2020.
He said: "I wanted to be a footballer and I was on my way. I was introduced to Bennell and the abuse started straight away."
Gary, who turns 50 this year, had signed up to Manchester City when he was just 14 years old and had hopes of all his dreams coming true.
But after years of abuse, he left the sport – and spent years trying to process the horror of his childhood caused by Bennell before bravely speaking out and calling the police in 2015.
Gary, who has waived his right to anonymity, said: "The best thing I ever did was speaking up.
"For many, many years it was buried, especially for men. Men feel shame, embarrassment, peer pressure and worry what people think.
"However, it was like a tonne of bricks being lifted off my back.
“A lot of sexual abuse and sexual violence is tied up with coercive and controlling behaviour by the power of the perpetrator. By reporting it to police, it enables you to take back a little more power.
“I was on medication for over 20 years before I spoke up. I decided to report it in 2015 because I was getting older and I really didn’t want to be sat in later life when I was retired really regretting it.
"I wanted a conviction in my name so I set it off.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’d say to anyone who is thinking about speaking up – it’s so helpful to have a network of family or trusted friends around you to support you.
Importance
“Sometimes the justice system can be very long and frustrating but it’s all worthwhile in the end if you get a conviction.”
Gary, who joined Staffordshire Police as a PC in 2002, now works as a detective in the force's Child Protection and Exploitation Team, based in Stoke-on-Trent.
He added: "The importance of talking is massive. Opening your mouth and talking can come across as a cliché but it’s true.
“People may think there’s a lot of barriers built up in your own mind but they are not there. After I had spoken up, the support was incredible – from everyone – my friends, family and the force.
“Speaking up got me the control back. When you are a child and you grow up, you can’t put your head as a child on again. The easiest thing in the world is to keep your mouth shut than speak up so you can bury it and try and carry on.
“Not a day goes by I don’t think about what happened to me. Often children don’t speak up because they don’t have the vocabulary, they don’t know what’s going on and can’t stop the abuse.
“I was absolutely elated at the end of the trial after I had heard he had been found guilty. It was a long old journey but the satisfaction following the conviction is worthwhile. There’s a sense of taking control back.
“There are so many services on offer to people who have suffered sexual abuse – speaking up was the first step and the best thing I ever did.”
In February 2018, Bennell was jailed for 30 years for abusing 12 young footballers he coached. Former Crewe Alexandra coach and Manchester City scout Bennell was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of 50 child sexual offences committed between 1979 and 1991.
