The England and Wales Cricket Board is organising an internally-led evaluate right into a former Durham coach, who has admitted sexually assaulting a teenage participant after being convicted of comparable offences towards younger cricketers on 4 earlier events.
On Wednesday, Michael Strange, 63, appeared through a video hyperlink from jail for a 10-minute listening to at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court and admitted a single indecent assault cost on a 14-year-old within the Tyne and Wear space within the late Nineteen Nineties.
Strange has now admitted or been convicted on 5 separate events of abusing younger gamers he was teaching at two golf equipment within the north east, and was most lately sentenced in January 2022.
We have been working with statutory companions within the space over latest months to debate how the ECB can achieve a full understanding of Strange’s offending behaviour
ECB
The PA information company spoke to one among Strange’s earlier victims final 12 months, who referred to as on the ECB to carry an inquiry.
The ECB’s inside evaluate will likely be performed by the organisation’s safeguarding crew. In December 2022, the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit, who audit nationwide governing our bodies yearly, concluded the ECB is assembly the unit’s safeguarding requirements.
An ECB spokesperson stated: “Our thoughts are with all victims of Michael Strange and we applaud their bravery in coming forwards.
“The ECB suspended Michael Strange from all cricket activity in May 2005, as soon as he was arrested and we were informed of the allegations, and he was permanently disqualified from all cricket activity in April 2006.
“We have been working with statutory partners in the area over recent months to discuss how the ECB can gain a full understanding of Strange’s offending behaviour.
“Through this co-operation, the ECB has been able to obtain some limited information about the offences. While victims retain their lifetime right to anonymity, the police have extended an offer to all victims to speak to the ECB should they wish to contact us.
“While statutory partners do not believe a complex case practice review is warranted, the ECB is now scoping an internally-led review to establish further information about the environment in which Strange committed his offences within cricket, and how this informs ECB safeguarding strategy.”
Magistrates had despatched the case to Newcastle Crown Court on September 7 as a result of their sentencing powers weren’t enough for the seriousness of the offence.
It was understood Strange’s jail sentence for his earlier offending was coming to an finish quickly, however he’ll nonetheless be behind bars when this newest case is handled on the crown courtroom.
No particulars could be printed which establish the sufferer on this case.
Investigators have been in touch with the cricket authorities about Strange’s prior offending.