The writer's companion. Imposter syndrome. Calling oneself a writer sounds terribly pretentious, don’t you think? Maybe it’s because I think I’m not very good at it. Maybe it’s because I’m not very good at it. It could be due to my complete and utter lack of tutoring or training, or it could be a man thing. It might even be a working-class thing, or maybe it’s just a writer thing. I wrote in school despite being no scholar. I was never likely to be accused of being - what’s the word I’m looking for? – academic. I struggled in maths, terrified of the teacher in case she dragged me up to the front of the class and dared me to twitch my nose again. I was terrible at science, hated geography, and told the teacher that history was old-fashioned. I thought it was funny. When old Mr Whitham, the maths teacher, told us if we wanted to learn, sit at the front and those who didn’t sit at the back and play cards, guess where I sat. That’s right, in the English class. I’d sit quietly wri
Posts
Waiving your anonymity
Waiving your anonymity , you can’t take it back… It’s now a long time since I waived my right to anonymity, and even longer since I disclosed the sexual abuse I suffered as a 12-year-old boy - at the hands of my football coach Barry Bennell to police, and I suppose, although I have written about my experiences, I feel the time is right now to write this short blog on this important subject, as I feel it’s very important for people to understand how difficult this can be and to ensure you give this some serious thought before you even consider doing so. I suppose I have seen both sides of this; as after I initially disclosed to the police I kept my anonymity right from 04 February 2013, up until my interview with Sky News, which was shown for the first time from 7pm on Monday, 28 November 2016, with the build-up to the interview starting around an hour before. That day, things massively changed for me. So why did I do this, why change my mind? Well, I made the decision initia
This is a copy of an Open letter sent to the Home Office. 17/12/2020
To: Home Office public enquiries From: David Lean Subject: Bail Conditions should be imposed on child sex offenders Good Afternoon, I hope you are well as you read this massive safeguarding concern. Very recently in October this year, I was made aware of an Individual who was first arrested, then investigated then even after charges were laid being allowed to watch Junior football matches for a period of 20 months without any restrictions in place to stop this? His crime was sexual communications to what he believed to be a 12-year-old boy which was actually part of a police sting operation but I believe my concerns relate to all offences of any sexual crime to a child. I was massively concerned as a Survivor of Sexual abuse within football myself at aged 12 and wrote immediately to the LFA, FA, the local club involved and also my MP and the LADO, along with the NSPCC. I could not believe this was possible but I have now been reliably Informed now that police up and down the Country
Who is watching your children play sport, do we really know?
Who is watching your children play sport, Do we really know? By David Lean and Jason Holyhead While both of my blogs are factual, any opinion expressed are my own. Let me begin by making it very clear that this is a real-life situation and it did not happen twenty years ago; this is ongoing as I write and in fact, I only became aware of it myself on October 9 th 2020. I have decided not to mention names, although I have added a link to a media report from Granada Reports to add evidence to support this blog being the truth, should you wish to watch it alongside your reading. Thank you Jason for helping me write and draw attention to this Truth. On October 8 th 2020 I was aware that Barry Bennell - the football coach who has sexually abused over 100 boys, was finally being sentenced in Court for the last time. This process had started all over again for Bennell, who was first convicted in the 90s and when I disclosed in 201
David Lean - My Truth It was always in the public interest . Barry Bennell Thankyou to everyone who is about to take the time to read My Truth. Barry Bennell is the biggest paedophile in British Sport, and this story needs to be told. It’s a very frank, detailed and honest account of what happened and my feelings throughout. I would never wish to trigger or upset anyone in any way, so please take good self care while reading and afterwards. The feeling of knowing this monster may have sexually abused a hundred more boys after myself, is something I have to live with every day. I hope you find it interesting. Please share it and use it to educate others! Regards David I first I heard of David’s story while I was researching another CSA article I as writing. When I contacted David I was amazed at his strength and courage, but also by his generosity and his willingness to share his story, despite the pain and suffering it undoubtedly caused him to live through it all again. He is