Ex-Football Coach's Rematch With Former Player Scheduled For Next Year

An ex-football coach, accused of molesting a young boy during sleepovers four decades ago, will return to court for another trial next year.

Former delivery driver David Hinman, 70, of Poplar Close, Downham Market, Norfolk was accused of two separate incidents.

An Inner London Crown Court jury found him not guilty of two counts of indecent assault relating to one sleepover.

However, they could not agree a verdict on two more counts of indecent assault relating to a sleepover following a holiday abroad. 

Hinman, who has always protested his innocence, will return on March 2 to fight those charges.

The court heard Hinman allegedly kissed the youngster on his neck and groped him between the legs on two occasions while sharing his single bed at his former Peckham Rye flat.

The boy was aged between eleven and fourteen years-old and played for the Camberwell Lions when he says he was molested by the defendant between 1981 and 1985.

Hinman told the trial: “I never touched him physically at all. It absolutely did not take place.”

Hinman admitted they did share his bed once after returning to south London in the early hours after a holiday to Majorca, which included the boy’s brother.

“Once we got home the camp bed was set up and I said to the boys: ‘You sleep in my bed and I’ll sleep on the camp bed.’

“He retorted: ‘I’m not sleeping with that fat tramp,’ so we shared my bed.”

Hinman conceded there was one awkward moment during the trip. “On the holiday I inadvertently went to the bathroom and saw him naked.”

He also denied exposing himself and asking the youngster if he wanted to try some aftershave while getting ready for one of his DJ gigs.

“It definitely did not happen. The bathroom had a door on it and the bedroom had a door on it.”

Hinman told police during questioning the allegations were “malicious” and told the jury: “I made the assumption he was trying to make financial gain from criminal damages.”

When the boy stopped playing football Hinman visited his family home. “They said he said I had touched him, kissed him on the neck and touched his bum.

“I assured that mother it had not happened and said he must have been dreaming.”