A FORMER Grey High School cricket and rugby star has been suspended by the England Cricket Board and sent home in disgrace over shock allegations he had sex with a 15-year-old girl he was coaching privately.Warren Bell, 22, who played cricket for the Eastern Province Amateur team, was playing for Spondon Cricket Club in the Derbyshire Premier League in England when he was suspended three weeks ago under the child protection regulations for abusing his position as a coach of a junior player.
He has been banned from attending matches and coaching in England and advised to leave the country as the matter was considered to be of “extreme seriousness”.
Spondon chairman Neil Kellogg said a decision would be made once the matter had been discussed at a board meeting in September or October.
“If proven guilty of the charge, he will not be able to return to England as a cricketer. The procedures are that the cricket board will inform cricket authorities in South Africa – and it remains to be seen how serious this will be considered at EP Cricket.”
Bell played 17 first class matches for EP and played in the first cricket and rugby teams at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth.
EP Cricket Board chief executive Dave Emslie said he had written to Cricket SA to get an official report on the incident, on which they would base their punitive measures against Bell.
Shocked Spondon captain Sam Kellogg said Bell had been with the team since April and was appointed by the girl‘s parents to provide one-on-one coaching lessons.
“I never imagined he would be accused of something like this. He appeared to be a genuine and responsible guy.”
News Courtsey: http://www.theherald.co.za
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