Abuse trial hears victim was dropped from football team when he failed to do what coach wanted

A man allegedly abused by former Celtic Boys’ Club manager James Torbett borrowed money off of him for a debt but never repaid it because of what he did to him, a court heard. Jurors at the High Court in Glasgow heard excerpts from police statements given by a 40-year old man, who died in a swimming pool accident last October, about alleged abuse when he was a youth player.

He claimed Torbett, known as Jim, abused him during his time in the under 14s team in the early 1990s.

The 40-year-old told police Torbett “dropped” him from the team when he didn't do what he wanted him to or made excuses not to go to his house, where he claimed he was regularly abused.

He claimed Torbett took him and other boys on holiday to Disneyland in Florida and the team travelled to France for a tournament, but that no abuse took place on the trips.

The man told officers he contacted and borrowed money from Torbett in 2001, but decided "f*** him" and he wasn't going to repay it because he didn’t have it and "what he did to him".

The witness was giving evidence at the trial of Torbett, 71, from Kelvindale, Glasgow, who denies sexually abusing four boys August 1985 and August 1994.

Three officers read parts of statements they each noted from the man, between December 2016 and June 2017.

In the first he claimed the first time he was abused by Torbett was in his car after taking other boys home from training.

He said: "The car stopped and Jim grabbed my hand and put it on his groin."

He further alleged Torbett touched him on the groin.

The court heard he "didn't know what was happening" and that he felt confused and scared

The statement went on: "I can still remember lying in bed that night thinking to myself 'is that how adults act?'."

The man told police there was "numerous incidents" that happened. He also claimed Torbett invited him over to his flat where he abused him.

Jurors heard Torbett "would drop him from the team" when the teenager didn't do what Torbett wanted, and when he made excuses not to go to his home.

He told officers Torbett asked him to dry "in a certain way" when showering after training sessions.

An excerpt from one of his statements said "I had to put the towel behind my back and show him my private parts, he would raise his eyebrows to acknowledge he saw my private parts then I would sit and get dressed."

The court heard the schoolboy went to Paris on a trip with the team and Torbett bought him the French national tracksuit when they were there.

He told police Torbett also paid to take a selection of players away to Florida for a two week holiday and that no abuse took place on either trips.

Jurors were told around 2001 he was using drugs and had a gambling habit, and his dad who helped him out with debts had died and he owed a friend money.

He initially gave a statement that he found Torbett's number on an old phone book and called him but later admitted he went to Torbett's flat, and took his new mobile number from him.

He said never told the police because he was "embarrassed and felt guilty" going to flat where Torbett "frequently abused him”.

The man said he later phoned Torbett for money, who agreed to meet him and loan him £200 that he "intended" on paying back.

The court heard he told officers Torbett phoned him "about five times" but he never answered.

And said: ”I didn't have the money to pay him back then I decided 'f*** him', I wasn't going to pay him back because of what he done to me, sexually abusing me and also I didn't want to see or speak to the man ever again."

Torbett denies the charges and the trial before judge Lord Beckett continues.