Football coach in court charged with grooming 13-year-olds online

Dominic Cantley, who coached at South Shore Under 13s Football Club, is accused of trying to lure two 13-year-old boys into meeting him for sexual purposes after talking to them on an internet chat-site.

Cantley, 26, of Breck Road, Blackpool, who worked for Blackpool Council as a home carer for the disabled and elderly, faces two charges of grooming.

He is also accused of attempting to incite a 13-year-old boy to engage in sexual activity in a video.

The offences are said to have taken place in the resort between January 24 and February 16 this year.

The court was told Cantley also coached at Layton Juniors Football Club, which later refuted the claim.

Prosecutor Pam Smith asked for the case to be heard at crown court and opposed bail for Cantley, while Howard Green, defending, said his client would not indicate pleas to the offences at that stage and asked for bail.

Blackpool magistrates said the case must be heard at crown court and initially granted Cantley bail, before that decision was appealed by the prosecution.

Cantley must now remain in custody until the appeal is heard by a judge at Preston Crown Court on Thursday.