An amateur footballer, coach and referee, who has officiated and trained Jewish football teams, including youngsters, has been jailed for sexual crimes against children carried out more than 30 years ago.

Stephen Slotwiner, 65, from Rochdale, was sentenced on Friday (23/3) to six years in prison for molesting two schoolgirls in the 1970s and 1980s. Around the time he carried out repeated abuse of his victims, Slotwiner coached at Manchester Maccabi, also playing as its first team goalkeeper. The convictions came after his victims came forward more than 30 years later, although none of the offences related to incidents connected with football or sports.

Slotwiner, who pleaded guilty to nine counts of indecent assault at an earlier hearing, attempted to use an injunction to block the publication of his name and crimes. However, Judge Martin Steiger QC lifted a ban, stating that it was in the interests of justice to name someone convicted of serious offences. The judge also banned the football official from working with children and placed him indefinitely on the Sex Offenders' Register at a sentencing last Friday.

Mr Slotwiner was selected for the Maccabiah British football team and played in the games in Israel in 1965,1969 and 1989. He also was an accomplished athlete, winning numerous gold medals for track events at Maccabiah's 1974 games. Since then he has been involved in grassroots football as a top amateur referee who has officiated at Manchester City and United Academy matches.