"Horrific" former sports coach subjected boys to abuse for over four decades

A FORMER sports coach who subjected five teenage boys to “horrific abuse” has been jailed for 30 years.
Dylan LambDylan Lamb
Dylan Lamb

Dylan Lamb (72), “grossly abused his position of trust” as a sports coach by sexually abusing boys in Rotherham, Doncaster and Lincolnshire in the 1970s, 80s, 90s and early 00s.

Lamb, formerly known as Johnathan Haythorne and Johnathan Haythorne Price, was found guilty at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday of 21 sex offences following a 13-day trial.

At the time of the offences, Lamb was employed as a football coach in Swinton and later as a hockey coach in Brigg, North Lincolnshire.

Det Con Kath Coulter, who led the investigation, said: “The abuse began when the victim was just 13, when Lamb, who was known as Haythorne at the time, was working as a football coach in Swinton and living in Mexborough.

“Over the course of five years, Lamb abused the boy, with the abuse reportedly getting less frequent as he got older.

“As our inquiry progressed, and we made efforts to find and arrest Haythorne, we discovered that he had changed his name to Dylan Lamb and had recently been working as a hockey coach at a club near to Brigg.

“It was here that a second victim came forward to report abuse at the hands of Lamb. He was 15 at the time and played at the hockey club where Lamb worked.

“After initially charging Lamb with some offences earlier this year, a further three victims came forward, reporting that Lamb had abused them too, having met him in his role as a sports coach.”

Det Con Coulter said victims had reported that Lamb used to buy them meals, birthday presents and arrange group trips where they would stay overnight, such as camping.

“Lamb often used to invite them to stay with him either at his house, or in a hotel,” she said.

“It was through these events, and inviting them to places where he could be alone with them that Lamb grossly abused his position of trust and subjected the boys to horrific abuse.”

Lamb, of Queens Court, Scawby, was found guilty of 21 offences including 11 counts of indecent assault and five counts of indecency with a child.

The victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were all aged between 13 and 17.

Det Con Coulter added: “The horrific, sustained abuse that Lamb subjected the boys to has had a profound impact on them and first and foremost I’d like to praise their bravery in coming forward and speaking to police about what happened.

“Lamb was in a position of trust, and he abused that in the most horrific way possible.

“He made the victims feel as though no one would believe them, that he, as a sports coach, would be the one people would listen to.

“Even years later, when a victim saw Lamb in a social situation, he froze and said it brought him right back to the abuse, showing the devastating impact Lamb has had.

“The survivors, in their own words have spoken about the impact Lamb’s offending had on them, with one saying he suffers from ‘very vivid flashbacks’ and is unable to sleep. Another has spoken of the dark times he went through but that now, following the court case ‘there is some sunlight breaking through.’”

Police said anyone concerned about the case could speak to an officer via 101 quoting incident 189 of December 5, report an incident online or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively, call the NSPCC on 0800 800 5000.