Former Peterborough United youth coach Kit Carson dies in car crash ahead of trial for alleged sexual abuse of young boys

Former Peterborough United youth coach Michael '˜Kit' Carson has died in a car crash ahead of a trial for alleged historical sexual abuse of young boys.
Kit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearingKit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearing
Kit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearing

Carson (75) died in a crash at 9.45am yesterday (Monday, January 7), the day his trial was due to begin.

The single vehicle crash was at the A303 near Bottisham. Carson was the only person in the car when it collided into a tree.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The trial was due to begin at Peterborough Crown Court at 10am.

Kit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearingKit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearing
Kit Carson outside Cambridge Magistrates' Court at a previous hearing

His body has been formally identified.

Jeremy Benson, prosecuting at Peterborough Crown Court today, said: “The defendant died yesterday morning.

“He was involved in a road traffic collision at about 9.45am yesterday morning.

“No other vehicles were involved.

The scene of the crashThe scene of the crash
The scene of the crash

“There is an investigation being carried out and I therefore don’t propose to go into any other details.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The position is that the car was registered to Mr Carson and the person who died was of the appropriate age and had in his possession identification documents in the name of Mr Carson and also yesterday afternoon at approximately 4.30pm the body was identified by Mr Carson’s widow.”

Inspector Amarjit Singh QPM told the court the body of Carson was formally identified by his wife Pauline Carson.

Judge Matthew Lowe ruled that the case file be closed.

The fatal crash was confirmed at Peterborough Crown Court this morning.

Carson had been charged with 12 counts of indecent assault and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The offences were alleged to have happened between 1978 and 2009 and involve 11 victims, all boys under the age of 16.

Nine of the offences were said to have taken place in the Peterborough area.

Carson, who was the academy director at London Road between 1993 and 2001, denied the charges against him.

Along with his spell at Peterborough United, Carson also worked for Cambridge United and Norwich City football clubs.

The trial will now not take place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: “The victims have been informed and efforts are being made to contact all the witnesses.

“Anyone who saw the collision or has dash cam footage should call 101, quoting incident 100 of January 7.”

A spokesman for the NSPCC said they could not comment on the case, but said any victim of non-recent sexual abuse could contact their helpline on 0808 800 5000.

The FA and the Crown Prosecution Service said they would be making no comment in regards to the death of Carson.