Investigation after former boy scout says he was raped at Dutch camp

DETECTIVES have launched an investigation after a man told police he was raped as an 11-year-old boy at a scout campsite in the Netherlands.

The victim was with other young boys from a scouting group based in Stockport on an organised trip to the site at the time.

Now aged in his early 40s, the man said he was raped in the summer of 1985 during a stay at the Scoutcentrum Buitenzorg camp campsite in Baarn, Utrecht.

It is understood that at the time, the victim and his attacker were known to each other, but the victim has been unable to give police a name.

Although an exact date isn’t known, the rape is believed to have taken place sometime from mid-July to the end of August in 1985 at the site, which is based in the Vuursche Forest.

Police chiefs have praised the man’s bravery in coming forward to report the attack after more than three decades.

He’s been offered specialist support.

Now detectives want to hear from anyone who might have been at the campsite that summer, as children or adults, with information about the incident.

Scout groups from across the UK and Europe are known to have visited the camp.

Det Con Phil Hargreaves, from GMP’s public protection division, issued a nationwide appeal for the public’s help.

He said: “This man was very brave in coming forward to police and reporting this incident. A specialist team of officers have been working with him and offering him support, and we will continue to do so.

“Help and support will always be there for people who come forward and report sexual offences. We have followed extensive enquiries and we now want to speak to anyone who was at the camp that summer.

“Even if you didn’t witness anything, or have any knowledge of the incident, you may still have information which could be vital to this investigation.

“We know scout groups from across the UK and Europe visited the camp, so it may be that you are not from the Greater Manchester area but I would still urge you to get in touch.”

The site has been a popular camping destination for scouts and guides since 1949. It’s divided into 17 campsites of varying size over 15 hectares.

Anyone with information should call the investigation team on 856 7994 or 101.