Gerald Highgate 85

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A paedophile football coach has been jailed for ten years after he abused eight boys, as young as 11, between 1966 and 2000.

Gerald Highgate, 83, who was a serial sex offender who carried out his abuse for more than three decades, appeared at Guilford Crown Court in Surrey today.

Victims said he had destroyed their childhoods and used their love of football against them.

Judge Micahel Hunter told the sex predator: ‘You groomed boys, possibly as young as 11, over a very long period from 1966 to 2000, a period of 34 years.

‘Had you admitted these offences and spared your victims from the trauma of coming to court and giving evidence in this trial, you would have substantially reduced your sentence.’

Highgate, who coached at the Surrey club’s Chipstead FC and Bletchingley Rifle Club, where he carried out 30 offences against eight boys.

He was convicted after a six-week trial.

Catherine Donnelly for the Crown told the jury: ‘Highgate appears to have been adept at grooming both adults and children and appears to have conducted himself in this way over a significant period of time.

‘On occasion he would use money and treats as a way of placating the children or rewarding them for allowing him to abuse them.’

Police believe there could be many more victims of Highgate who are yet to come forward.

One of Highgate’s victims read out his impact statement to the court, stating he had felt anger, shame and disgust ever since the abuse began.

He told the court: ‘Ultimately, I hate you for abusing me. I loved football and you took that from me.

‘I have lived with what you did for all these years. I only hope I can get the justice I deserve, and I can move on.’

Other victims said they had struggled with relationships throughout their lives after suffering at the hands of Highgate.

Another man said: ‘The stigma of being abused has affected me in so many ways and I have only really come to terms with it in later life.’

Guildford Crown Court heard how parents looked up to him as a respected figure in the community.

Judge Hunter described Highgate’s offending as a serious breach of trust.

He said: ‘The boys were in your care, you were looking after those boys as members of the junior team of which you were the leader, mentor and coach.

‘Many of those boys looked up to you. Certainly, many of the parents admired, respected and looked up to you.

‘In some cases, they were seriously mistaken.’

Highgate pushed his hearing aid through the toughened glass panels of the dock at Guildford Crown Court before being told he was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison for 30 offences against eight boys.