James Counsell KC features in the Beyond Suspicion (Most Trusted) Series Podcast

James Counsell KC is featured in the latest ‘Beyond Suspicion’ podcast, a true crime investigation series, to discuss the sexual abuse campaign by Barry Bennell and psychological injuries caused to victims.

The Beyond Suspicion (Most Trusted) Podcast Series looks at some of the most heinous crimes perpetrated by people in positions of trust and examines the ripples their actions left on their community.

Yinka Bokinni, the broadcaster, speaks to criminologists, psychologists and legal experts in her podcast examining how sometimes the worst criminals, from police officers, to surgeons, to teachers, to youth coaches, are often hiding ‘in plain sight’.

James Counsell KC speaks about Barry Bennell, one of the UK’s most prolific serial paedophile. Barry Bennell was a respected football coach and scout with a long career spanning decades at prominent professional clubs in the North of England. He worked closely with aspiring young male footballers, some as young as nine, and his position allowed him to manipulate, groom and sexually abuse boys under the guise of being a coach for the clubs concerned, with the ability to fulfill their dreams of becoming a professional player. The podcast examines how an abuser can get away for it for so long without being suspected and why a married man might commit such horrific crimes.

Mr Bennell, who died in 2023, was convicted and sentenced five times, to a total of over 50 years in prison, both in the UK and the US. Civil actions were brought against the football clubs for whom Mr Bennell was said to have worked for damages for the psychiatric injuries suffered by the survivors.

Personal injury specialist, James Counsell KC, led these claims and cross-examined Mr Bennell for two days by prison videolink.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

Find out more

James Counsell KC acts mostly for claimants in the full range of personal injury work. For the past few years, he has specialised in acting for survivors in non-recent sexual abuse claims against numerous institutions, schools and individuals and is a leading claimant lawyer in this field, regularly being asked to speak on topical issues. He was lead counsel in the first two successful claims (leading Benjamin Bradley) against the Jehovah’s Witness organisation, leading now to a large number of claims against the JW and also against football and other sports clubs, one of which (against Blackpool FC) was tried in early 2020, judgment given for the Claimant and overturned on appeal and more recently (2022) in an 8 week trial against Manchester City.  An appeal in the second JW case was heard by the SC in February 2023. 

To find out more about James, contact Paul Barton on +44 (0)207 427 4907 or Lexie Johnson on + 44 (0) 207 427 0801 for a confidential discussion.

External Publications, News 2 May, 2025