Former youth footballer tells court how he was abused by boys club coach

A former youth footballer claimed that he was sexually abused by a Celtic Boy's Club manager when he was a teenager. The man, aged 46, told the High Court in Glasgow that 71-year-old James Torbett - who he knew as Jim - would on occasion stuff hundreds of pound notes into his mouth while abusing him.

He said: “Sometimes he would give you money. He would fit it into your mouth using his hand.

“One time it was £530. I remember going home with £100 notes in my pocket.”

The man, who lives in the Glasgow area, also claimed that on a trip to Noyon in France with Celtic Boys Club Torbett did a” striptease” to music before abusing him.

The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told prosecutor Sheena Fraser: “I was in my bed in a dormitory. Jim Torbett was standing there with a shirt and underpants on. He proceeded to do a striptease. He took his shirt off and was dancing.”

The man told the jury that Torbett, who still had his underpants on, was moving the shirt back and forwards between his legs. He claimed that Torbett then summoned him to his room and abused him.

At times during his evidence the witness appeared upset.

James Torbett, 71, from Glasgow, denies a total of nine offences of sexual abuse allegedly committed between August 1985 and August 1994.

Defence QC Tony Graham lodged a special defence of alibi in relation to a charge alleged to have taken place between June 1985 and June 1986.

Torbett, 71, from Glasgow, denies sexually abusing four young boys between August 1985 and August 1994 at various addresses in Glasgow, in his Mercedes, and in London and Noyon in France.

During his evidence the man said: Jim Torbett was my hero. I would have run through walls for him. I would have done anything he told me to do. I loved him.”

He claimed that the abuse began with Torbett touching him on his private parts as they sat watching television in Torbett's home.

Miss Fraser added: “Did he say anything,” and the witness replied: “No, but when he did it he had a big smile on his face..”

The man said that he told no one about the alleged abuse until 2015.

He added: “ I had to get it out. It was killing me. I told my sister, but I swore her to secrecy.”

The witness said that he also phoned Police Scotland and added: “They never came for a couple of days and I went into a huff and I told them lies.”

He told the court this was because his mother was there when the police arrived.

The court was told by the witness that the alleged sexual abuse by Torbett ended when he was 17 and began a relationship with a woman.

He told defence QC Tony Graham that he was only selected for Celtic Boys' Club at his second attempt.

One the first occasion Jimmy “Jinky' Johnstone who was described in court by Mr Graham as a Celtic great got him a trial.

The witness said: “Jimmy Johnstone got me a trial for the under 12s. I did a six week trial and and I was told I wasn't good enough.”

One the second occasion the witness said he competed when he was 13 against 200 other boys for a place and was successful.

The trial before judge Lord Beckett continues.