Sex assault ex-scout leader jailed

A disgraced former Norfolk Scout leader was today starting a four-year jail term for abusing his position of trust and sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

A disgraced former Norfolk Scout leader was today starting a four-year jail term for abusing his position of trust and sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Julien Pike, 37, who was involved with the organisation both locally and nationally, admitted five offences of sexual activity with the boy when he was aged 13 to 14 years old.

Norwich Crown Court heard that Pike was the specialist advisor for paddle sports for the national Scouting movement.

Pike, of Northcote Road, Norwich who is a managing director of a Norwich-based internet company groomed the boy by getting him to hug him and this then progressed to sexual activity.

Matthew McNiff, prosecuting, said the boy felt “uncomfortable” about what was happening and when he turned 15 told Pike he did not want any further contact with him. The boy then later told his girlfriend and family about what happened and police were contacted and Pike arrested.

Pike was immediately suspended from any contact with the Scouting movement and later resigned his position.

In an impact statement, the boy said that he had suffered from anxiety and depression as well as post traumatic stress disorder because of what happened. He was also having to take sleeping tablets and had sought help from a child psychologist.

Jailing Pike for four years and placing him on the sex offenders' register for life, Judge Peter Jacobs said he had betrayed the trust of the boy's family and his abuse had far-reaching effects on the victim.

However, he accepted that Pike was now full of remorse.

Judge Jacobs also made Pike subject to a sexual offences prevention order under which he will not be allowed unsupervised contact with anyone under 16 and he is also banned from ever working with children.

Michael Clare, for Pike, said that he had written a letter of apology to the victim.

He said Pike had a mature insight into his offending and was prepared to “face the music”. He said there was no coercion or force used and when the boy had ended the relationship he had accepted this. He added his chances of re-offending were very small.

Among Pike's numerous Scouting endeavours, he helped run a Norfolk Camp Together weekend in 2001 where Scouts and Guides from across the county came together with young people with special needs.

After the case a Scout Association spokesman said that they had assisted Norfolk police during their investigation and said he was suspended from any form of contact with the movement as soon as they were aware of the arrest. “The Scouting Association carries out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and requires them to work to a strict code of practice outlined in the Young People First Code of Practice.”