Cheshire Football Coach Convicted 57 Historic Child Sex Offences

William Woods, a former football coach from Cheshire, has been convicted of 57 child sex offences committed over a 30-year period, involving eight children aged five to 15. Woods exploited his position of trust within the community, using connections with family friends to isolate and sexually abuse children in the Northwich and Crewe areas. He also encouraged the victims to abuse one another and subjected them to physical abuse, including locking a child in a cupboard and burning them with cigarettes and a cooking pan. The investigation began in 2018 after one victim came forward, leading to the identification of seven additional victims. Despite overwhelming evidence, Woods denied all allegations and claimed he had never met some of the victims. He is scheduled for sentencing on August 15, 2025, after being found guilty at Chester Crown Court following an eight-week trial.