A former cricket coach, described as, "a predatory monster", was jailed today (Thursday, September 7) for a further two years following his fifth conviction for the sexual abuse of a boy.

Michael Strange was recently made the subject of a review into his activities by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), in the light of previous convictions for which he is still serving time behind bars.

The now, 63-year-old defendant appeared before Newcastle Crown Court for his latest sentencing hearing by video link from HMP Northumberland, where he is serving his most recent previous sentence, imposed in January last year.

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It follows a guilty plea tendered at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court, last month, to a single count of indecent assault on a child.

Read more: Durham cricket coach admits further sexual assault

The court heard the latest victim to come forward was aged about 14 at the time of his first approach by Strange, although he would have been 15 by the time of the offence, itself, in May 1997.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told the court the victim first came into contact with Strange when he approached him at a children’s cricket training session.

Mr Pallister said Strange told the boy he was a scout and offered him the chance to play senior cricket at a club in the Tyneside area, which was, “a big step up from the children’s cricket he had been playing.”

Strange went on to befriend him and his parents, offering to give the boy lifts to and from training.

On the day of the offence, the team was playing a cup game away at Richmond, and, following the tie, all the players and the defendant went for drinks.

Mr Pallister said the victim believed he would have had two or three beers and then travelled back to Tyneside with the defendant, to his house.

The arrangement was that he would be picked up by his parents at about midnight.

While they waited, Strange put pornography on the television in the living room and began to grope the boy’s genital area, initially over clothing and then making full contact inside his trousers.

Mr Pallister said the victim told police that Strange was talking about pornography all the time this was happening, and it lasted for between 20 minutes and half an hour until the headlights of the car of his parents were seen outside.

He was told to tell his parents they had been watching cricket on the television if asked.

The victim kept the incident to himself for more than 20 years, until he saw a news report about one of the defendant’s previous offences and that led him to come forward.

He confided in a friend and then informed the police, in January 2022.

When interviewed, Strange admitted having put pornography on the tv and accepted that there must have been some “touching”.

Read more: Review launched as ex-Durham coach admits sexual assault

In his impact statement, the victim said he now has a son of roughly the same age that he was when the incident took place, and, he, too, is involved with cricket.

He said he felt embarrassed at the time and has since had feelings of, “disgust and shame”, and the abuse of trust shown by Strange is something he has struggled to understand since.

But he said that while frustrated with not being aware of the risks, he hopes safeguarding has since improved in the sport.

The victim added that he hopes the case now brings him a sense of “closure”.

Mr Pallister said the defendant has four previous convictions for 29 offences, all sexual.

The most two recent convictions have resulted in prison sentences of 54 and 40 months respectively, in 2020 and 2022.

Ian Hudson, for the defendant, said his client is aware that a custodial sentence for the latest conviction was, “unavoidable”.

Mr Hudson said a letter he presented to the court on Strange’s behalf outlines his “genuine remorse”.

“None of that is hollow, self-serving and full of self-pity.

“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”

Mr Hudson pointed out that this incident actually pre-dates the commission of the offences for which the defendant received the 54-month sentence and he urged Judge Stephen Earl to bear in mind the principle of “totality”.

Judge Earl said by the time of this incident, in 1997, the defendant had been committing such offences since about 1992/93, by his record, but it was not until 2012 that he was first dealt with by the courts.

“So, this was his fifth victim, but he only made the disclosure to a friend as an adult.

“The shame and embarrassment is not something the court has not seen before.

“He said he hopes it shines a light on it for other people coming forward and says it’s alright to come forward and you will be protected thereafter.

“Perpetrators will be treated seriously by the courts and receive appropriate sentences.”

He said positions of trust within sport give offenders, like the defendant. the credence of power over complainants, with the possibility of grooming behaviour, “as an authority figure for the purposes of the sport”.

“It’s very difficult for a young person in the defendant’s home to avoid behaviour like this.”

Judge Earl imposed a two-year prison sentence but added that it would be consecutive and only start at the conclusion of the sentences already being served by Strange.

Following the defendant’s guilty plea, last month, Northumbria Police confirmed it had spoken to the ECB and, “shared appropriate information”.

The force stated: “In doing so, we protected the right that all complainants and victims of sexual offences have to life-long anonymity, meaning they should not be named or identified in any way."

Strange has previously been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

The officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Lisa Herron, of Northumbria Police said: “Strange, once revered as a ‘hero’ in cricket circles, is a dangerous predator who preyed on young boys under his tutorage in the most sickening of ways.

“He robbed multiple promising young cricket stars of their innocence. He is the definition of a monster.

“It has never been easy for any of his victims to speak out and to have to re-live that childhood trauma but I, on behalf of everyone at Northumbria Police, want to thank the victims who have bravery come forward.

"Thanks to your courage, Strange has remained behind bars and been exposed for the depraved beast he is.”

She added: “I want to urge any victim of sexual assault, abuse or rape to please speak out regardless of when it happened or who the perpetrator was because nobody should have to deal with abuse alone.

“We know how difficult it is to speak out and we promise we will support you in every way we can. We can offer support and guidance and put you in touch with specially trained Independent Sexual Violence Advisors (ISVAs) and introduce you to support networks.

“And, of course, we will do everything we can to seek justice for you. No one deserves to suffer.”

Anyone who has been victim of rape, sexual assault or abuse is asked to contact police on 101 or report via the "Tell Us Something" page of the Northumbria Police website. Always call 999 in an emergency.

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