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He allegedly exploited his position at Manchester City and as Crewe Alexandra youth team coach to groom boys as young as eight.
And, claimed Nicholas Johnson, prosecuting, he would frequently take two of them to bed at his flat, sleeping between them.
Mr Johnson told the jury that Bennell had unfettered access to large numbers of young lads dreaming of a life in professional football.
He added: “Although it seems Mr Bennell was a skilled and relatively successful coach we allege he had a much darker side.
“He was a predatory and determined paedophile.”
It was alleged Bennell convinced boys to stay at his flat on the pretext it would help them better prepare for matches.
He turned it into a boys’ paradise, installing a fruit machine, pool table, giant TVs and kept exotic pets, including a monkey and wild cat.
Inside the apartment, Bennell scared the young players by screening horror movies such as Nightmare On Elm Street so they would want a cuddle, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
BBC
“We allege he had a much darker side”
Nicholas Johnson
Bennell also allegedly devised a game called Follow Me in which the boys would have to mirror his touching.
Mr Johnson said the coach rewarded his victims with sports kit and KFC take-outs.
Some of the youngsters were also allowed to train at Manchester City’s ground and one played for the team as a junior.
Another received Football Association coaching and became a young England international.
But one boy who initially rejected Bennell’s advances found himself being played out of position in the team. Then he was dropped by the coach, who told him he would never succeed in football. Five weeks later Bennell raped him, it was alleged.
Another victim who reported Bennell’s alleged activities received a letter from the coach on official Crewe Alexandra notepaper asking him why he had been spreading rumours.
SWNS
Some of the alleged victims said they were haunted by the smell of Bennell’s sweat and aftershave.
Bennell, who appeared via video-link because he now has cancer and has to be fed through a stomach tube, has denied 35 indecent assaults, 11 male rapes and two attempted rapes, involving a total of 11 boys aged from eight to 15, between 1979 and 1990.
Mr Johnson told the court that these were specimen charges and the total number of rape and sex assault allegations made by the boys ran into hundreds.
The jury had been told before the trial began that the coach admitted seven other indecent assaults on three boys aged 11 to 14 between 1981 and 1991.
They also learned he has previously served prison sentences in England and America after admitting serious sexual offences involving young footballers.
Mr Johnson told the jury that the boys had been “systematically victimised by a devious paedophile”.
Relatives of the alleged victims were “completely taken in” by Bennell, who presented himself as a confident and skilful individual.
The trial continues today.