Former football coach found guilty of sexually abusing 14-year-old player in 1980s

A former football coach has been found guilty of the sexual assault of one of his 14-year-old players in the 1980s.

David Hinman, who lived in Peckham at the time and went under the surname of Weightman when he ran the Camberwell Lions, was convicted after a one-week trial at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

The 71-year-old said at the trial in front of His Honour Judge Ian Darling that the complainant was lying in his claims he had been kissed and groped by his football coach.

But he was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault of a boy aged 10-14 and will be sentenced on April 7.

Child sex abuse cases allow complete anonymity for the complainant. But in this case, John Lynskey, now 48, has waived that right.

Hinman knew John Lynskey and his younger brother Anthony through the Camberwell Lions. Hinman also took John in his van, delivering for City wine merchants Russell McIver.

The trio and Hinman’s father had returned to Gatwick in summer 1985 from a two-week holiday in Majorca, organised by Hinman.

They stayed overnight at Hinman’s house – the coach claimed flight delays meant they did not reach Peckham until after midnight. But John’s home was actually only a 15-minute taxi ride away on the Willowbrook Estate, Peckham.

“I must have called the Dulwich pub his mum Mary was working at, from Majorca, to tell her about the delay,” said Hinman, who changed his name when he married, to include half his husband’s name and half his own.

“I would not have left it with her not knowing.

“I had no sexual desires towards John at all. We flew in late at night or I would have taken him home.”

Hinman put up a camp bed on his bedroom floor and told the court he suggested the brothers sleep on his single bed – the house’s cottage-style sofa was unsuitable. But Hinman claimed the victim said: “I’m not sleeping with that fat tramp.” 

Anthony, then 12, said he would sleep on the camp bed, leaving Hinman and John in a single bed in their boxer shorts.

Prosecuting, Brian Russell said: “Did you not think that was inappropriate?”

Hinman replied: “I didn’t think anything at the time, but on reflection, yes. All I wanted was to get some sleep.”

Hinman said in his police interview: “I was helping Mary out when I could – she was holding down two jobs and had three children under 14.”

The incident happened before November 6, 1985 – specified because Anthony was run over and killed on his way to a firework display the day before.

“The holiday I booked had free places for two children so I suggested we invite the brothers,” Hinman said.

Three weeks after the quartet’s return, Hinman went to the family home to pick up Anthony for football, and asked John why he was not coming to football. John said he didn’t want to, and Hinman slapped him.

John then called Hinman a “f***ing nonce”. The victim’s sister testified in court to seeing the confrontation – Hinman denied any took place.

“I just asked him why he wasn’t coming to football and when he said he didn’t want to, I said OK and left,” Hinman told the court.

“I am not that type of person. I don’t even slap my own step children. He believes it happened and has grown upon it and grown upon it.”

Prosecuting, Mr Russell said: “Hinman has suggested in his police interview the victim was in it for the money. But he does not need money. Hinman’s other theory was that the victim was being teased at school for being gay – but it is not clear how this accusation would have helped.

“It has been eating away at John and when he saw publicity about other cases, he felt it was time to come forward.

“He also told his mother. He did not just make it up in 2017.

“The slap is significant because there are independent witnesses.”

Defending counsel Brent Martin said there had been rumours at the school John was gay. Mr Martin said: “He reacted as an embarrassed, mouthy teenager would do, hurled the worst possible insult he could think of – ‘he’s a f***ing nonce’.”