Former coach who abused young cricketers should be honest about insults

A former Durham youth coach and scout has been advised to “come clean” about any other victims of his sex offence as he awaits sentencing for a sixth time.

Michael Strange, 64, has five previous convictions for abusing young cricketers and last month admitted four counts of indecently assaulting two men between 1986 and 1995.

Strange’s offending is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which began last summer.

The governing body was accused by the victim in a case that concluded last year of failing to protect him and “countless others” from Strange, who police described as a “monster” after sentencing him to two years in prison last September.

The launch of the ECB review comes after another abuse victim, who spoke to the PA news agency in 2022, called on the governing body to launch an investigation into Strange’s wrongdoing.

Strange appeared via video link at Newcastle Crown Court on Thursday for a sentencing hearing, with Judge Sarah Mallett inviting him to speak candidly about the full extent of his offending.

“One thing that occurred to me was that if the defendant knows about other victims of his crime, I can’t help but feel it would be in his best interest to come clean,” she said.

Judge Mallett added that the failure to do so “undermines the prerequisite of remorse”.

I would encourage you to consider the benefits of honestly explaining any issues that may or may not be unresolved.

Judge Sarah Mallett to Michael Strange

“I am not pressuring him to admit to other crimes, I am simply flagging up what is obvious to me. It does not work to his advantage for these charges to be dealt with piecemeal,” the judge said.

“If the accused has no memory problems and no other obstacles to remembering, he should remember all his victims, otherwise there will be too many boys.

“I would like to encourage you to consider the benefits of telling the truth in any matter that may or may not be unresolved.”

Sentencing was adjourned until September 17 to allow Strange to review police statements in the case. Prosecutor Rachel Glover said the complainants in the case were “very upset”.

Strange was a coach associated with Durham and trained at other local clubs across the North East.

Police began investigating him in 2005, but the first victim was unable to make a complaint and it was not until 2011 that police were able to gather enough evidence to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service and obtain charges, leading to Strange’s first conviction in 2012.

He has since been convicted of historic child abuse offences relating to cricket in 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2023.