Former coach accused of abuse denies 'ulterior motive' by taking boys for group activities

The founder of Celtic Boys' club Jim Torbett denied having an “ulterior motive” by taking players for group activities. He began giving evidence at his trial at the High Court in Glasgow where he denies abusing three boys between August 1986 and August 1994.

The 71-year-old told the court he founded the club in 1966 when he was around 18-years-old.

Torbett said they used Celtic's name and played in Celtic strips, but are not connected to the football club.

He told the court that he took football kits home to wash them and he would have three or four volunteers from the team at his flat to help sort them out again.

Defence QC Tony Graham asked: “The three or four boys involved involving themselves in kit preparation, would you do anything together after the kit work had been done?”

Torbett said that they would maybe go ten pin bowling beforehand.

Asked why he would do that he said he was “a great believer in community” and said it was “good fun”.

Mr Graham said the court heard from a psychologist who talked about grooming.

He asked Torbett: “Was there any ulterior motive on your part to do these things as a group?”

Torbett replied: “Absolutely not.”

The jury heard Torbett does and has always lived alone and described himself asexual.

Mr Graham asked: “What do you mean by that?” He replied: “I don't participate in it.”

He said that in the 80s he “performed in some sex” with women.

Jim Torbett said it was "devastating" to hear sex abuse allegations had been made against him.

He told jurors: "I couldn't believe it."

In evidence he said he did “everything he could to help” one man who claimed he was abused by him as a teenager.

Torbett said he respected the man - who alleged he had money put in his mouth while being abused - and thought he was respected back again.

Tony Graham QC asked if he had any reason to believe the man had anything bad to say about him and he said: "Absolutely no reason."

Torbett said he thinks it was 2016 he heard an allegation had been made by the man, who he kept in contact with after he left the club.

He said when he first saw the charges against him it was devastating.

When the allegations were put to Torbett in evidence he said: "It just never happened."

Mr Graham asked how he felt hearing what he's accused of, and he replied: "It's very hard to explain how it feels, again I use the word devastating.

"It's devastating, it's just not true."

The defence QC said the witness told the jury of having money put in his mouth.

He asked: "Are you a man who felt because your business was doing well, you owned (the man)."

Torbett replied: "Not at all."

Torbett was asked if he "groomed" him so he would think it was "the norm" but said "Absolutely not".

Jurors were told Torbett did "everything he could to help” the man who he respected, and thought he was respected by him too.

He was asked about the allegations made by another man who claimed he abused him at the Trophy Centre he owned at Shawbridge Street in Glasgow.

Torbett said he “knew of” the boy, but didn't know him.

He said what was alleged “didn't happen” and when asked if he saw the child “semi-naked” and said: “I hardly saw (the man) never mind semi naked. It didn't happen, Mr Graham.”

Jurors heard the allegations made by the third man – who tragically died last October in a swimming accident and the court heard evidence through statements he gave to police.

He alleged Torbett abused him at the Trophy centre, in a car and at his home.

Torbett described the man as a “very good player”.

An alleged incident of being abused in a car was put to Torbett who said “It didn't happen.”

Mr Graham said: “This is the third person bringing information by different means, to suggest you are a man who seeks sexual gratification from little boys.”

Torbett replied: “I know what he's saying.”

He was asked if he took the boy to the Trophy centre to abuse him and replied: “Nothing like that could ever happen in the Trophy centre for a start and it never happened at all.''

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