Grandfather of ex-England footballer Jesse Lingard “sexually abused young girl for years” court told

The 86-year-old Warrington-based grandfather of ex-England footballer Jesse Lingard allegedly sexually abused a young girl from the age of five to 19, a court has been told.

The alleged victim made her claims against Kenneth Lingard to police after watching a Channel 4 documentary about the life of his footballer grandson.

Kenneth Lingard of Northway, Orford, Warrington, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court, denying 17 offences of historic indecent assault which allegedly took place when she was aged between five and 19.

A jury heard that in the years after the alleged abuse by the former gymnastics coach the woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told others what he had done to her.
These included a male friend who was puzzled about her demands to turn off the soap Coronation Street whenever it came on until she explained that some of the abuse had occurred when the theme tune was playing.
Benjamin Aina, KC, prosecuting, also told the jury of five women and seven men, that she would insist the friend had a shower when he came back from work. When he questioned her she told him that the smell of sweat reminded her of the abuse.
The court heard that she watched the Channel 4 documentary called, “Untold; The Jesse Lingard Story” on November 17, 2022, the first time it was aired on national television.
“In the documentary, Jesse Lingard outlined the positive influence the defendant had had on his life and his football career. Having seen the praise heaped on the defendant by Jesse Lingard, she contacted the police and made her complaints,” said Mr Aina.
Eight minutes of the 50 minute documentary – “the catalyst for her coming forward” – were played to the jury in which he told how he grew up between his mum and his granddad’s homes.
He told how his grandfather played football with him, trained him from the age of five and took him to his first Manchester United game. He described Lingard as having been “very passionate, very competitive” and said, “If it wasn’t for him pushing me I don’t think I would be here.”
The defendant featured in the film and when asked at the end if he thought his grandson would get so far in the game he replied, “I always had it in my mind. There was no doubt whatsoever that he would make it.”
The jury heard that after watching the documentary, the complainant said in a message to a friend, “Shame on you Jesse Lingard. F….ing cheeky t…t.”
Mr Aina pointed out that many years previously the woman had told members of her family and professionals about what had happened to her. “She said one of the reasons she wanted to commit suicide was the sexual abuse.”
“The disclosures are relevant to her credibility, her consistency and ultimately whether she is telling the truth. In other words these are not complaints which have suddenly surfaced many decades later,” he said.
Lingard uses a wheelchair and the judge told the jurors that, because of his health problems at some stages of the trial, he can watch proceedings via video link from his home.

A recording of the police interview with the woman was also played to the court in which she told of abuse she had suffered at his hands including him digitally penetrating her private parts and feeling her breasts.
She broke down in tears when she told how she had been on a NSPCC course during which she revealed the abuse but said she was “too ashamed” to go to the police as they suggested.
“I was frightened to say anything to anyone. I said I couldn’t do it.”
She said that watching the documentary “was horrible and made me feel so ill. They were making out he (defendant) was such a hero.”
“I couldn’t take it any more. I have been suffering with my mental health since my husband died.
“Not a day goes by when I don’t think about what he (Lingard) has done to me.”
The case continues and is expected to last several weeks.