Scout leader found with indecent images
MAN, 61, HAD SICK PICTURES OF CHILDREN
A TEESSIDE scout leader has been banned from the youth organisation for life after being discovered with indecent images of children.
Nigel Shaw admitted two charges of making indecent images of children when he appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to both charges, which date from June 2014 to October last year.
The first charge included having 1,541 category C images, which included 12 videos and the second charge was for having 138 category B images, including eight videos.
Niamh Reading, prosecuting, said Shaw, of Hartlepool’s Hayston Road, had the images on three devices at his home.
She said as well as being a scout leader he is also a Park Run photographer. She said police visited Shaw’s home, where he lives alone, after being given information from a source that he had been downloading indecent images.
She said: “The defendant directed the officers to a laptop and other devices.”
The prosecutor said images were found on a laptop, an external hard drive and a CD-rom. Ms Reading said the circumstances were aggravated by the large number of images and videos found over over a long period of time.
She also said “the defendant’s position as a scout leader and having access to boys of a similar age to those found on the images” needs to be taken into account in sentencing.
Shaw was represented by Alex Bousfield, but no mitigation for the offending was given.
Shaw was bailed until August 9, where he will appear at Teesside
Crown Court for sentencing.
The Scout Association issued a statement following the hearing confirming Shaw was now barred from the organisation.
A spokesperson said: “The safety of young people in our care is out number one priority.
“We are aware of this case. Shaw was suspended from Scouting in October 2021 as soon as we were made aware of his arrest.
“The authorities have advised that there were no scout members involved in his offending.
“Following his court appearance Shaw will be excluded from scouting and he will never volunteer with us again.
“The Scout Association has clear safeguarding procedures that all our leaders must comply with and we carry out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people.”