Two men who were allegedly sexually assaulted by their football coach as boys were spurred to come forward by press coverage, a court was told.
The pair, now 27, went to police in late 2016 due to national exposure of similar cases. One, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was giving evidence at the trial of a retired firefighter, John Queen, 63, who denies abusing eight youngsters over a 33-year period.
He had run a team in the Seedhill area of Paisley, Renfrewshire and faces 14 charges dating between 1984 and 2007. The alleged victim told Kilmarnock sheriff court yesterday he had been abused between 2002 and 2007.
He said Mr Queen would stare at his genitals when he showered after games and dry his back and added that he invited him to his home and gave him naked massages before making him shower. He said Mr Queen also performed a sex act on him when he and his friend went on a trip to Blackpool when they were 15. The trial continues.