Former Scout Leader Jailed for Sexual Offences Against Children

Jonathan Withey, 42, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for sexually assaulting a boy and a girl he met at a Scout camp in 1997. Withey, who was 16 at the time, began abusing the children, who were in their early teens, the following year. The girl was subjected to abuse for four years, while the boy endured three years of abuse.

Withey, of Tindall Close Chilwell, was found guilty of two counts of rape, three indecent assaults, six counts of indecency with a child, and two counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 at Nottingham Crown Court.

He was also placed on the Sex Offender's Register for life and will serve an additional year on licence after his 16-year sentence.

Police investigator Kerry Humphreys of Nottinghamshire Police said: "Withey abused his position of trust as a Scout leader to prey upon these children over a long period of time. He must have thought after all these years he had got away with his offending. However, he underestimated the bravery of his victims and the determination of officers to bring him to justice."

Humphreys continued, "Withey continued to deny his offending and subjected his victims to a court trial. Throughout the proceedings, he has not expressed any remorse about the ordeal they have gone through. He is a devious and predatory sex offender whose offending has unsurprisingly had a very significant impact on these two victims."

"As Withey prepares to spend a lengthy period behind bars, I'd like to personally thank them for their bravery in coming forward. Withey would have remained a danger to any children he came into contact with if they had not spoken out about what happened," said Humphreys.

Detective Sergeant Adam Taylor added: "Nothing is more important to the force than the safety and wellbeing of children. I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this man to justice and hope this case serves to encourage other victims to come forward."