john heald Sexual Abuser

October 2005 Pervert scoutmaster jailed When Tom first met Scoutmaster John Heald he was delighted to make a new friend.

Heald singled him out for special attention, lavishing him with gifts and praise.

“He seemed a really nice guy,” remembers Tom, now 51.

“He taught me to play guitar, he used to take us for drives and make us feel like we really mattered.” But for two years Heald sexually abused Tom and another of the other boys in the Scout group.

It was only in 2003, after 36 years of silence, that Tom finally plucked up the courage to report his tormentor to the police.

Heald pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two and a half years in jail, but for his victim the emotional scars remain.

“In hindsight, what he did was monstrous, absolutely monstrous,” said the musician.

“But at the time it was just normal, we didn’t know any better.” Sadly, Toms case is far from a one off.

For predatory paedophiles who manage to worm their way in, local Scout groups are ideal places to groom and abuse youngsters.