Belmont Scout master, serial sex pest sent to prison
Judge condemns Scout leader’s manipulative behaviour
A BELMONT Scout leader who committed a litany of crimes against children in the 1990s and early 2000s has been given a prison sentence of seven years and 10 months with a minimum of five years and eight months.
Neville Raymond Budge, 56, (pictured) was found guilty of 20 charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16 and pleaded guilty to a further four charges.
His sentencing by a County Court judge follows the Geelong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team’s work on the case for six years.
Budge was described as “manipulative and predatory” but showed little remorse.
IN a remorseless last act, a paedophile Scout leader from Belmont told one of his victims he was “a liar” before being led away to serve more than seven years in prison.
Neville Raymond Budge, 56, was sentenced at Melbourne County Court to seven years and 10 months in prison with a minimum of five years and eight months.
Budge was found guilty by a Geelong County Court jury in June of 20 charges of committing an indecent act with a child under 16 and he pleaded guilty to another four charges later in the month.
Yesterday, Judge Gerard Mullaly condemned the “manipulative and predatory” abuse as “simply abhorrent”.
In June, the court heard Budge had joined the Scouting movement in 1986 and became Scout leader at 1st Belmont Scouts in May 1994, where he was nicknamed “Nifty”.
Crown prosecutor Sally Flynn detailed numerous incidents with victims aged between 10 and 15 between 1995 and 2002, when he was relieved of his duties.
Ms Flynn said victims were asked questions about puberty, were watched by Budge in the showers and inappropriately touched while at the Scout leader’s home.
She told the court that in one incident he “instructed the complainant to remove his shorts” and then remarked on the victim’s genitalia.
She said he also paid one scout, aged 14, “a bottle of sunscreen and $5” to watch him perform a sex act.
Harrowing victim impact statements were read to the court by the prosecutor in June and revealed many of the children, now in their late 20s and early 30s, had distrust towards adults, authority figures and have since had failed romantic relationships.
One victim said he lost more than $100,000 after turning to gambling as an outlet to distract himself from the memories and had attempted suicide at a young age.
“I’ve spent many years with hatred deep inside me,” his statement read.
“The nightmares began almost immediately following the sexual abuse and I’ve suffered from them weekly on and off over the last 17 years.”
In sentencing, Judge Mullaly told Budge that he was the only person to blame.
“Unfortunately, like others in this matter, and with victims in general, one victim said he has a sense of anger for not standing up to you at the time,” the judge said.
“Let me say that he nor any victim is not at fault or to blame, only you and you alone are responsible for these crimes.”
Outside of court, Senior Constable Kathy Bell, of the Geelong SOCIT unit, said it had been working on the case for the past six years.
“The victims today and everyone else who’s been involved in the investigation will be incredibly relieved,” Sen-Constable Bell said.
“It was incredibly difficult for them to come forward and give evidence before a jury and prepare for that, as time went by the emotional effect it had on a number of complainants while they were giving evidence was monumental.
“They’re still struggling to this day and I hope today will give them so closure on what happened to them.”
She described Budge’s crimes as “absolutely disgusting and a complete breach of trust”.
She said she thought the sentence “totally appropriate”.
“I want to thank Scouts Victoria,” she said.
“They behaved in a commendable way and I think it’s a shame that this wonderful organisation has been tainted by Budges actions.”
Sen-Constable Bell encouraged any other victims to contact the Geelong SOCIT unit.
“They’re still struggling to this day and I hope today will give them so closure on what happened to them.” SEN- CONSTABLE KATHY BELL