SCOUT LEADER GUILTY OF SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN IN NEWPORT
A FORMER Scout leader sexually abused children in Newport.Paul Skilton, 68, was found guilty following a trial of two offences of indecency with a child and three of indecent assault.
The charges dated back to between 1997 and 2002, and Skilton would have been in his early to mid-forties when he committed the abuse.
The offences involved two children and were committed in both Newport and Pembrokeshire.
Newport Crown Court heard that Skilton placed a female child’s hand on his penis and rubbed his penis against the girl’s vagina.
He also groped a male child’s bottom under his clothes, prosecutor Nick Gedge said.
In a statement read out by Mr Gedge, the female victim said she had lost trust in men as a result of her abuse.
Summarising a statement given by the male victim, Mr Gedge said: “The abuse he suffered had a big impact on his life and mental health.” Ruth Smith, appearing for Skilton, acknowledged the mitigation was limited as the defendant still continued to deny the offences he was found guilty of.
Ms Smith said Skilton had lived a “pro-social life” apart from these offences and had no previous convictions.
She added that the defendant had a “substantial involvement” with the Scouting movement and there had never been any complaints against him.
Ms Smith told the court that the defendant’s physical health was “not good” and this would make any period of imprisonment “more onerous”.
Recorder Paul Hartley-Davies said he was limited to the length of sentence he could impose as he was required to pass a sentence commensurate with the laws at the time.
He jailed Skilton to a total of four-and-a-half years imprisonment.
The defendant, of Llangwm in Pembrokeshire, must register as a sex offender, and was made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years.
The victims were granted 10-year restraining orders against him.
Skilton was found not guilty of four further offences of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child.
