Judge finds AFL legend Barry Cable sexually abused girl for five years when she was a

Legendary Australian Rules footballer Barry Cable repeatedly sexually abused a Perth girl while at the height of his playing career, a judge has found.

Cable, 79, was sued in the District Court of Western Australia by a woman who alleged he abused her over a five-year period beginning in 1968 when she was aged 12 or 13.

After overseeing a civil trial earlier this year, Judge Mark Herron on Friday found the abuse had taken place, awarding the woman $818,700 in damages.

But his victim may be unlikely to receive substantive financial compensation after Cable was declared bankrupt prior to the trial.

Cable has persistently denied abusing the woman and has not been charged with any criminal offences.

Legendary Australian Rules footballer Barry Cable (pictured left, with wife Helen) repeatedly sexually abused a Perth girl while at the height of his playing career, a judge has found

The former Kangaroo – considered one of the greatest rovers in the sport’s history after a long career in the WAFL and VFL – denies any wrongdoing and has never been charged

The victim who launched the lawsuit said Cable abused her throughout her teenage years, escalating from sexualised conversations and unwanted touching to ‘degrading’ sexual violence and forceful intercourse.

She said Cable sexually assaulted her at his family home while his wife and children were asleep in bed, in his garden shed, his car and at a public swimming pool.

Cable warned the woman no one would believe her if she told anyone about the abuse and she feared he would hurt her if she didn’t do as he said, the court heard.

The abuse triggered suicidal thoughts and caused her to start binge-eating and using laxatives, leading to a lifelong medical condition.

Cable did not actively defend the proceedings, instead relying on written material already provided.

His victim told the court she had a vivid recollection of the abuse, assisted by diary entries from the time.

Cable told the girl he was ‘training’ her to be a hit with men and she would eventually thank him for the assaults, the court heard.

‘My body was the crime scene and I’ll never forget that,’ she told the court while sobbing.

The victim alleges Cable, 79, sexually assaulted her at his family home while his wife and children were asleep in bed, in his garden shed, his car and at a public swimming pool

The trial also heard evidence from four other women who alleged Cable had sexually abused them when they were children.

Cable had made several unsuccessful attempts in recent years to have the proceedings permanently thrown out.

The most recent challenge was dismissed by the WA Court of Appeal last year.

One of football’s most decorated players, Cable was in 2012 elevated to legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

He had an illustrious playing career for Perth and East Perth in the WAFL and North Melbourne in the VFL, going on to coach in both leagues.

In 2005, he was named by the AFL as a player and coach in the Indigenous team of the century.

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