The serial paedophile at the centre of football’s sexual abuse scandal is in hospital after being found unconscious in a Hertfordshire hotel, it emerged on Monday.

Barry Bennell, 62, was discovered at the Novotel hotel, Knebworth House, in Stevenage, late on Friday evening, and was taken to the town’s Lister Hospital, where he remained on Monday.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary said officers had responded to a request from Thames Valley Police to visit the hotel “as part of inquiries to locate a missing person”.

Thames Valley Police described Bennell’s hospitalisation as a “fear-for-welfare incident”. The force would not comment on whether the former youth coach had attempted suicide.

A spokesman said: “Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, just before 11pm on Friday in connection with a fear-for-welfare incident.

The English football establishment has been rocked by sexual abuse claims after a number of former players said they were assaulted by Bennell, a three-time convicted sex offender who had worked for clubs including Manchester City, Crewe, and Stoke City.

And on Monday night it was claimed that the police and Crown Prosecution Service were warned three years ago that Bennell could have preyed on “hundreds” of boys.