ANDREW DEAVES, SCOUT LEADER FROM LONDON, SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN JAIL FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN CROYDON

Update: Andrew Deaves, now working as a Holistic Massage and Remedial Treatment specialist in Maidstone, was previously involved in a serious criminal case in 2010.

In July 2010, it was reported that an 11-year-old girl was sexually abused during a summer outing by Scout leader Andrew Deaves. He was subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.

Deaves, 50 years old and residing on Belmont Road, South Norwood, was found guilty of repeatedly indecently assaulting the young girl between June and August 2002. Court proceedings revealed that he forced her to perform sexual acts and touched her intimate areas.

The abuse came to light when the same girl, now 19, attempted to blackmail Deaves for money in October of the previous year. In response, Deaves reported her to the police; during her interview, she disclosed that he had sexually abused her when she was a child.

Although the girl was arrested on suspicion of blackmail, authorities decided not to pursue charges, deeming it not in the public interest. Deaves was arrested himself on January 8 and later admitted to the abuse to two former Scout colleagues and his ex-wife.

Court details indicated that during one summer Scout trip, Deaves inappropriately touched his victim while giving her a piggyback ride. Following his arrest, he resigned from his Scout position. He was supported in court by two former colleagues.

Deaves pleaded guilty to several charges, including two counts of gross indecency with a child, two counts of indecent assault on a female under 13, and one count of breach of trust. His defense solicitor, Adam James, stated that Deaves expressed 'genuine remorse' and was 'conscious' of the impact of his actions.

He explained, 'It stopped abruptly when the enormity of what happened dawned on him. He woke up to the reality of the situation.' The court was also informed that Deaves continued working with children for several years after the abuse, but investigations confirmed he had not targeted any other minors since.

James added, 'He’s a man of previous good character. He has worked with young children without any impropriety to their advantage. The reason why this occurred may never be known.'

In addition to his prison sentence, Deaves was banned from being in the company of children under 16 and has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register. Recorder Daphne Wickham sentenced him, stating: '(The sentence) will bring your career and your work in the community to an end. I accept it was you who stopped the contact. It was a reflection on the mess you made of your life. But you should never ever have done that to a little girl.'