Barry Cable, a former champion in the world of football, has been acquitted of several historical child sexual abuse charges. The verdict comes after a judge-only trial that examined accusations dating back to the late 1960s.

Now 82, Cable was accused of abusing a girl who was around eight or nine years old at the time. The incidents were said to have occurred at Cable’s family home while the girl was staying there with Cable and his wife, Helen, for approximately a month.

During the trial, prosecutors detailed the alleged abuse, which the woman claimed began under seemingly friendly circumstances. She recounted that Cable initially treated her kindly, akin to an uncle.

“He was loving towards me like an uncle,” she testified in March, adding that there was a shift in behavior, “then things changed.” She further described how he began to inappropriately touch her.

“He was loving towards me like an uncle … then things changed,” she said while giving evidence in March.

“He started touching my body.”

The abuse allegedly involved penetrative sex on multiple occasions when the former North Melbourne player’s wife was asleep.

All told, Cable denied five counts of indecent dealing with a girl aged under 13 and two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 13 between December 31, 1966 and December 31, 1969.

A civil trial in the same court in 2023 found Cable abused a girl over five years from 1968 when she was aged 12.

The victim was awarded $818,700 in damages.

The civil trial judge said there was compelling evidence the former footballer had violated other children.

Cable, who repeatedly attempted to have the civil case proceedings permanently thrown out and did not attend the trial, denied the abuse.

He was later stripped of his Australian Football Hall of Fame honours following an illustrious playing career in the 1960s and ’70s for Perth and East Perth in the WAFL and North Melbourne in the VFL, going on to coach in both leagues.

He has been dumped from the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and the West Australian Football Commission revoked the former champion’s Hall of Fame membership, including his Legend status.

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