Blackpool FC ordered to pay £19k to victim of abuse by ex-scout Frank Roper

Blackpool FC has been ordered to pay 19,000 by a High Court judge over abuse carried out by a former club scout

While convicted paedophile Frank Roper was not paid by the club, the court heard he worked "exclusively on Blackpool's behalf" in the 80s. Roper died in 2005.

His victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, came forward in the wake of a series of former footballers going public with their own stories of abuse as children. They included former Blackpool star Paul Stewart, who spoke of his ordeal in 2016.

The court heard the victim, then aged 13, was abused during a football tour in the 80s.

Although there were no witnesses and the allegations came to light after Roper's death, Mr Justice Griffiths said he found the man to be a "transparently sincere and honest witness" and the evidence was "entirely plausible and convincing".

In his evidence, the victim described how Roper, who was convicted of four indecent assaults against young boys that took place prior to the incident, told him he would have to stay in his room one night, and insisted they shared a bed before groping him.

He recalled being "frozen with terror" and unable to sleep for the rest of the night following the abuse.

Blackpool FC had denied it was liable for Roper's actions as he was not a club employee, however the judge said Roper "was very much doing the work of the club", albeit as an unpaid volunteer, like most of the non-playing staff.

Mr Justice Griffiths added: "I did not hear evidence of a single case of Roper abusing anyone who was not a young footballer being groomed for Blackpool, or playing for Blackpool, at the same time as he was being groomed for abuse, or actually abused.

"The football and the abuse were symbiotic, and all the football was directed to recruitment for Blackpool FC."

He also said the club's actions since the allegations came to light had "made things worse" for the victim, who has suffered mental health problems since disclosing the abuse.

Mr Justice Griffiths said: "By never accepting any responsibility and never even accepting that the abuse had taken place at all, Blackpool FC maximised the suffering caused to (the victim)."

It was agreed Blackpool FC should pay £2,071.98 to cover the cost of cognitive behavioural therapy, while a the victim was awarded a further £17,000 in damages.