Jail for ex-football coach who abused boys in the 1970s

A 74-year-old former football coach has been jailed for sexually abusing two boys in Craigneuk in the 1970s.
The High Court in GlasgowThe High Court in Glasgow
The High Court in Glasgow

James Kinnen committed the offences when he was involved with the running of the local youth clubs and youth football teams in the area.

The abuse of the first boy, aged seven, started in 1972 when he played for a local team which Kinnen coached and he was regularly abused up until November 1976.

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The second boy, aged 11, played for the same team and was subjected to similar abuse between August 1973 and August 1977.

Kinnen, who had been living in Bristol, admitted the offences at the High Court in Glasgow and on Monday and was given a prison sentence of eight years.

Speaking after the sentencing, Procurator Fiscal for Sexual Offences in East of Scotland, Kenny Donnelly said: “These two young boys were robbed of their innocence by a man in a position of trust

“It is thanks to their courage and rigorous and sensitive investigation on the part of police and prosecutors that James Kinnen has been convicted of his crimes.

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“We would encourage all victims of such crimes, wherever and whenever they were committed, to come forward and report them.

“Victims can be confident that they will be treated with the utmost professionalism by everyone involved in the investigation and prosecution.”

The case was prosecuted following a wide ranging investigation into allegations of abuse in football.