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The accused youth coach is led into the courtroom of the district court in Stuttgart before the start of his trial for serious sexual abuse
Photo: Bernd Weißbrod / dpa
He won her trust with gifts and playing computer games together: a sports trainer from Fellbach in Baden-Württemberg is said to have sexually abused children and young people for years.
He now has to answer for this before the Stuttgart Regional Court.
The defendant fully confessed to his crimes.
"I take full responsibility for my actions," he said in a statement read by his defense attorney.
He apologizes to his former protégés, their relatives and the affected club in Fellbach.
Accused trained minors for 15 years
The voluntary youth coach is said to have trained children and young people in three clubs for around 15 years, he is said to have taken care of them and built up trust, for example by playing computer games together.
He is said to have put pressure on the children and young people, but also given them gifts, such as vouchers for online shopping.
In its indictment, the public prosecutor's office documents at least 500 different acts on mostly 12- and 13-year-olds, some older youths, from the years 2006 to 2021. All those affected are male, most of them appear as joint plaintiffs in the proceedings.
It cannot be ruled out that the actual number of alleged attacks is even higher.
The man is accused of serious sexual abuse, possession of child and youth pornography and abuse of wards.
So far, seven days of negotiations have been scheduled.
Those affected in the club uncovered deeds
The revelations had caused horror in the club and in the town of Fellbach.
"The alleged perpetrator has brought suffering to many children, young people and families, which is difficult to bear," said the association in mid-December.
Everyone was shocked by the extent of the crime.
Those affected had the courage to uncover the crimes in the association, the circular continues.
The club had already separated from the man now accused in January 2019 “due to sporting differences”.
However, everyone should also ask themselves whether they shouldn't have been more attentive in the past.
"If we had had the knowledge of today, that would certainly have been the case," writes the association and promises "a culture of looking."
In January, the association invited youth coaches from the entire handball district to a prevention training course.
ktz/dpa
