Prosecutor Kim Jennings told the court that Cable had an illustrious football career and was very well known and liked during the period. But behind that spotlight there was a darker side, Jennings alleged, claiming Cable was attracted to young girls and used his familial relationships and close connections to access them. Cable is accused of abusing the girl at his family home when she was staying with him and his wife for about a month.
The alleged victim testified that Cable treated her well at first, then started touching her body. She testified that the abuse involved physical contact, vaseline, and penetrative sex on multiple occasions when Cable's wife was asleep. The alleged victim testified that Cable told her he loved her and that's how they showed each other love. She testified that the abuse continued on a near-daily basis until she was returned to her then-home. The alleged victim testified that Cable called her useless on one occasion when his attempt to have sex with her was not successful.
He was loving towards me like an uncle ... then things changed. He started touching my body.
The alleged victim reported the abuse to police in 2023 when she saw Cable on television. She testified that Cable told her no one would believe her because he was Barry Cable.
Cable's lawyer Tom Percy KC accused the woman of making up the allegations after learning Cable was found guilty in a civil trial in 2023 to 'cash in'. Percy said the description and location of the home where the offending allegedly happened did not match the house the Cables lived in at the time. He added there was no opportunity for the abuse to occur because Mrs. Cable was always at the home. The allegations 'don't hold together at any level', Percy argued, claiming the woman was dishonest and had made abuse complaints against numerous other people, including a priest and one of Cable's brothers.
He told me he loved me and that's how we showed each other love.
A civil trial in the same court found Cable abused a girl over five years from 1968 when she was aged 12, and the victim was awarded $818,700 in damages. The civil trial judge said there was compelling evidence the former footballer had violated the girl.
It brought back memories of what he had done to me.
He told me no one would believe me because he was Barry Cable.
The allegations 'don't hold together at any level'.