Ex-Football Coach Finally Convicted Of Sleepover Gropes

An ex-football coach has received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of molesting a young boy during a sleepover four decades ago.

Former delivery driver David Hinman, 72, of Poplar Close, Downham Market, Norfolk was originally accused of two separate incidents.

He was convicted after a retrial at Inner London Crown Court of two counts of indecent assault.

The victim was aged between eleven and fourteen years-old and played for the Camberwell Lions football team when he says Hinman molested him between 1981 and 1985.

Hinman was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must comply with a 45-day Probation Service-ordered rehabilitation activity requirement.

The court also ordered him to obey a three-month electronically-tagged home curfew.

At an earlier trial a separate jury found him not guilty of two more counts of indecent assault relating to another sleepover.

Hinman has always protested his innocence and fought all the 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.

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.”