FOURTEEN sex crimes against children by adults in a position of trust have been recorded in Essex since 2011.

The NSPCC published the Home Office data to strengthen its #TrustToLead campaign which calls for position of trust laws to be extended.

Currently the laws do not apply to youth work roles such as sports coaches and leaders of religious groups, who are not legally in a position of trust.

This legal loophole means adults with regular and intense contact with children in sport and other activities are in a position to groom them from a young age, which can develop into sexual contact.

Almudena Lara, head of policy at the NSPCC, said: “Safeguarding in children’s clubs should not end suddenly at 16.

"The NSPCC has been told of a number of cases where in sports and other youth work settings, leaders have used their position to groom children, and then take advantage of them as soon as they turn 16.

“It's baffling sports coaches and other youth workers are not deemed to be in a position of trust, given the significant responsibility, influence and authority adults in these roles have over the children they're there to look after.

“Sadly, we know this trust can be abused and it's therefore vital this legal definition is widened to include sports coaches and other youth workers, bolstering protection for teenagers at risk of grooming once they pass the age of consent.”

It is an offence for someone over 18 in a defined position of trust to engage in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.

But this definition is currently limited to education and care settings, clinics, hospitals, voluntary children’s homes, residential family centres and criminal justice settings.

Home Office statistics show there has been a 57 per cent increase in recorded abuse of position of trust offences in England and Wales since 2011/12 regarding sexual contact with teenagers.

In total, 1,290 offences have been recorded since then.

For more information on the NSPCC’s Trust to Lead Campaign click here.