The grandfather of former England international footballer Jesse Lingard – on trial for historic sex assaults involving a young girl – has told a court he isn’t an ogre and the alleged victim had made the allegations “seeking attention.”
Kenneth Lingard, aged 86, who denies all the allegations against him, also told a jury, “I never sweat.”
Liverpool Crown Court has heard that the complainant used to insist a friend always showered when he came in from work as the smell of sweat reminded her of the abuse she had suffered.
Asked about this by Benjamin Aina, KC, prosecuting, Lingard said, “I never sweat. The only time I sweat was when I was training.”
Lingard, of Northway, Orford, Warrington, has told how he was a former gymnastics coach and powerlifter and also trained Jesse at football from a very young age.
The alleged victim went to the police after watching a Channel 4 documentary about the ex-Manchester United star’s career, in which “praise was heaped” by Jesse on his granddad.
This was the “catalyst” for her reporting the pensioner and she messaged the 32-year-old footballer, who now plays for FC Seoul in South Korea, saying, “Shame on you Jesse Lingard. Loads of lies. Your granddad Kenneth Lingard molested and sexually abused me and you know he did.”
Lingard, who is in poor health and has suffered a heart attack and prostate cancer, said that he had never indecently assaulted the complainant and claims she has made the allegations “for attention.”
He said he had heard rumours of her telling others that he had been abusing her but she did not confront him. He said her ex-husband came to his home and asked if there was any truth about what she was saying he had done.
“I said ‘no, should I get a solicitor?’ and he said, “that’ll do for me Ken.”
Lingard told how Jesse moved in with him and his late wife when he was four and he noticed his talent.
“I noticed, with my coaching, he was developing pretty quick considering he was only a child, really only a baby. A friend had a son who was at Liverpool, and he said he’d put a word in for Jesse.”
Jesse subsequently attended an LFC satellite training centre in Warrington. Lingard said, “After training the first night the coach said ‘where have you been keeping him?’ and that was the start of his career.”
The case continues
