KEITH SCOTT FROM MARSKE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE AND FILMING GIRLS AT SLEEPOVERS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Marske, Keith Scott, a 51-year-old man, was brought to justice for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls during sleepovers at his home. The allegations, which spanned several years, came to light more than a decade after the abuse began, culminating in a court hearing at Teesside Crown Court that revealed the full extent of Scott's depravity.

Scott, who was known to local residents as a trusted figure, had manipulated the parents of his young victims over an extended period. He gained their confidence by presenting himself as a caring and friendly individual, often spending significant amounts of time at their homes and earning their trust as a reliable babysitter. However, beneath this facade, Scott was engaging in a pattern of sexual misconduct that included filming himself inappropriately touching girls as they slept and performing sexual acts in front of a hidden camera.

The court heard that Scott had installed a covert camera in his bathroom, which he used to secretly record girls as young as four using his toilet. The police investigation was triggered when, in 2019, officers raided Scott’s residence on Station Close in Marske. During the search, they uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent images, including some depicting a baby and the rape of a five-year-old child. Scott initially admitted to possessing these images, as well as to the sexual assaults committed at his home and to photographing a young girl through a hole in her trousers.

Prosecutor Jo Kidd detailed how Scott’s collection included over 45,000 child abuse images, with a significant portion being original photographs taken by Scott himself. The images ranged from first-generation pictures to thousands downloaded from the internet. The police also found evidence of five counts of voyeurism, with the hidden camera footage capturing girls aged between four and ten during their visits to Scott’s home.

Victims and their families described Scott as an “uncle” figure who would shower them with expensive gifts and take them on trips, creating an illusion of kindness and trust. One parent expressed her devastation, saying, “We all thought we could trust this man. All along he was manipulating the situation. It’s disgusting to think I let this man look after my daughter.” Another parent shared her feelings of betrayal, stating, “I can’t believe he would do anything like this to my family. He was like an uncle to my children. As a mother, he’s made me feel I have let down my daughter and failed as a parent. These feelings will stay with me forever.”

Despite having no previous convictions, Scott initially withheld his guilty plea but eventually admitted to all 23 charges during his court appearance on August 12. The charges included sexual assault, voyeurism, and possession of indecent images. Judge Peter Armstrong condemned Scott’s actions as the “most gross abuse of trust imaginable,” emphasizing the manipulative and dangerous nature of his crimes. The judge described Scott as an “extremely manipulative, clever and dangerous paedophile” who had deceived everyone into believing he was a benign family figure.

In sentencing, Scott was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Additionally, he will serve a five-year license period upon release, during which he will be subject to strict conditions aimed at protecting the public. A sexual harm prevention order was also imposed, banning him from having unsupervised contact with children and restricting his internet use to prevent further abuse. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Marske, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from those who seek to exploit their trust.