In 2020, 70-year-old Anthony Marino—of Rowarth Road, Wythenshawe—was jailed for five years for a “vile” and “prolonged” serial of sexual strikes against three boys. The investigation established that the abuse occurred during the 1990s while Marino was acting as a youth football coach for a team in South Manchester. The prosecution reported at Manchester Crown Court that Marino utilised his position of authority to befriend parents and groom the children—who were aged between 10 and 16—by providing gifts such as football kits and allowing them to play computer games at his home.
The investigation established that Marino is a prolific serial re-offender with a history of predatory behaviour dating back decades. The prosecution reported that he was previously jailed in 2005 for three counts of indecent assault on a boy he also coached, and again in 2010 for six counts of gross indecency. Despite these prior judicial strikes, Marino continued to hide his predatory serial past until a fresh police strike in 2016 led to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea for his historical crimes in Wythenshawe.
GROSS BREACH OF TRUST AND VICTIM IMPACT
The court reported that Marino’s behaviour has had a “long-lasting and very serious” psychological effect on his victims, who are now adults. The investigation established that his serial grooming tactics were a calculated strike against the innocence of the children he was supposed to mentor. The prosecution reported that Judge Suzanne Goddard QC condemned the gross breach of trust inherent in Marino’s actions, noting that he intentionally misled both the children and their families to facilitate his predatory serial strikes.
Judge-led proceedings at Manchester Crown Court concluded on Monday 27 July 2020. For his actions in South Manchester and the nature of the serial child sexual abuse investigation reported, Anthony Marino was sentenced to five years in prison. The investigation established that for his prolific history of strikes, he was handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was legally mandated to sign the Sex Offenders Register FOR LIFE.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS (JULY 2020)
Based on judicial and Greater Manchester Police records as of 27 July 2020:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Gross indecency x4; Indecent assault x3).
- Custodial Status: JAILED (In 2020, serving 5 years).
- SHPO Status: ACTIVE for 10 years (Strictly limiting contact with minors).
- Offence History: Convicted in 2005 (Indecent assault) and 2010 (Gross indecency).
- Professional History: Former youth football coach in Wythenshawe.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active FOR LIFE.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced by Judge Suzanne Goddard QC; investigated by Greater Manchester Police.
- Criminal Record: Prolific serial paedophile; Groomed victims through youth football; Historical strikes from the 1990s; Jailed in 2020.
- Origin: Rowarth Road, Wythenshawe, South Manchester.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2020, Marino was managed as a high-risk dangerous offender under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Manchester. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his serial use of youth sports to gain access to children and his pattern of re-offending over 30 years—he is a priority for high-security detention. Authorities reported that the 2020 conviction identifies Marino as a predator who prioritised his own perverted gratification over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of children.
As a registered sex offender for life, his details are permanently logged on the national police database to prevent future strikes. Authorities stated that Marino’s behaviour identifies an individual who demonstrated a serial commitment to child sexual abuse through a position of trust. Any future attempt to strike against his notification requirements or bypass his 10-year SHPO results in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community from a man who used a “football coach” mask to hide his predatory serial strikes.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was able to “Re-offend Multiple Times” over 30 years while involved in youth sports, do you believe the law should legally mandate that any “Youth Sports Coach” must undergo a mandatory police strike on their background every six months for life?
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