KENNETH THOMPSON SENTENCED IN BETTWS FOR ABUSE AT ROCKFIELD FARM NEAR MONMOUTH

In a case that has shocked the local community, Kenneth Thompson, a 73-year-old former scout master residing in Monnow Way, Bettws, Newport, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a young boy during the 1970s. The court proceedings took place at Newport Crown Court on Monday, 18th August, bringing to light disturbing details of the abuse that spanned several years.

According to court records, the offenses occurred during multiple summer trips to a farm located in Rockfield, near Monmouth. These trips, which were ostensibly organized as leisure activities, were exploited by Thompson for his own malicious purposes. The victim, who came forward in 2015, recounted how Thompson used his position of trust as a scout leader to manipulate and assault him during these excursions. The charges included four counts of indecent assault, with two of these counts representing multiple instances of abuse.

Prosecutor Matthew Roberts detailed how Thompson took advantage of his role within the scouting organization and his relationship with the victim’s mother to arrange these trips. The court heard that these trips were not innocent outings but were instead carefully planned opportunities for Thompson to carry out his abusive acts. The assaults reportedly took place over the summer of 1973 and 1974, with Thompson taking the victim away for weekends alone, creating an environment conducive to his predatory behavior.

It was revealed that Thompson’s misconduct was not an isolated incident. He was dismissed from the scouting organization in 1995 after concerns about his suitability to work with young boys arose. The judge, Daniel Williams, emphasized the calculated nature of Thompson’s actions and the betrayal of trust involved. In his sentencing remarks, Judge Williams described how Thompson’s conduct was a deliberate abuse of the trust placed in him by the victim’s family. He stated that what the victim’s mother believed to be acts of kindness—allowing her son to go on trips with Thompson—were, in fact, acts of manipulation and exploitation.

Thompson’s four-year sentence will be halved, meaning he will serve two years in custody before being eligible for release. However, the court made it clear that if Thompson commits any further offenses during this period, he will be required to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Bettws and the surrounding areas, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators hiding behind trusted roles.