Former Ipswich athletics coach Stephen Benson’s appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing three of his protégés has been scheduled for next week.

The 51-year-old, who also taught PE at Copleston High School in Ipswich, was described as having a “darker and sinister” side to his character after being found guilty of a catalogue of abuse.

Benson, who lived in Pearson’s Way, Copdock, was convicted of nine rapes, six indecent assaults, two sex assaults and two counts of sexual activity with a child at the end of his five-week Ipswich Crown Court trial.

Benson was also found not guilty of two rapes. The nationally-renown youth coach with Ipswich Harriers had denied all 21 charges.

The assaults took place over a 20-year-old period with the earliest offence dating back to the 1980s.

Benson’s victims were aged between 15 and 18 at the time.

Almost a year to the day after he was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment on May 2 last year, his appeal is due to be heard before three judges in Court 9 at the Court of Appeal next Thursday.

It is understood Benson is contesting aspects of the summing up made by the judge at his trial as well as evidential matters.

Lady Justice Sharp is expected to preside over the case alongside Mr Justice Simon and the Recorder of Leeds.

Although the hearing – which is expected to last around two hours - has been scheduled for next Thursday morning, it could still be subject to change should any party have difficulties in accommodating the date.

Late last year Mr Justice Leggatt at the Royal Courts of Justice gave approval for Benson’s appeal after considering the papers submitted on the disgraced coach’s behalf.

During Benson’s trial the court heard how he was controlling and manipulative. He abused the three promising athletes after convincing them and their parents they could be stars of the future.

Sentencing Benson, Judge David Goodin described his crimes as a “terrible catalogue of abuse”.

The judge added: “Over the years you ruthlessly and repeatedly betrayed the trust of parents and daughters, callously and adroitly exploiting the relationship between you and parents and between you and the child and between the child and parents.

“In the case of each of your three victims you became a trusted family friend – you made sure you did and as you groomed these three young athletes for success on the track and the field you groomed them also to succumb to your sexual demands making it plain at the very least that if they rejected you they would in doing so reject their coach and lose the success that meant so much to them.”