Former football coach convicted 30 years after sexually abusing 13-year-old boy

A man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Swindon over 30 years ago has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Ronald Webb, 76, of Brook Road, Bath, appeared in court last week (26/07/19) for sentencing after previously being found guilty of attempted buggery following a three-day trial earlier this month.

He was also given a 10 year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

The victim, who is now in his 40s, reported the incident to police in 2017 after carrying the secret for 30 years.

Webb had befriended children in Swindon in the 1980s by forming a football team called Old Town United, which had resulted in a group of them going back to his house in Winifred Street one lunchtime.

Not only did he show them pornography, but when the victim had gone to use the toilet, Webb forced the door open and sexually assaulted the boy.

Det Sgt Lawrence Billi, from Wiltshire Police, welcomed today's sentence and said he hoped it showed that justice could be served, even when offences were committed many years ago.

He said: "We know that very often in cases of childhood sexual abuse, victims do not feel able to talk about what happened to them, and can spend many years, even a whole lifetime, keeping their pain and trauma to themselves.

"I hope this case shows that if people do feel able to come forward and speak to police, that we will take them seriously and will do everything we can to support them and bring offenders to justice."

You can find out more, including links to charities and organisations which can provide support, on our website www.wiltshire.police.uk/article/1134/Rape-and-sexual-assault and on the website of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre www.firstlight.org.uk/sexual-assault-referral-centre/