November 2002 Ex-Scout helper admits indecency A DISGRACED former adult Scout helper from Caldicot has admitted carrying out an act of gross indecency against a young boy. Richard Deakin, 33, from Firs Road, who once helped Caldicot 2nd Scouts as an adult, appeared at Newport crown court on Monday to face three counts of gross indecency against three boys aged 13 to 14 who were fishing at Rogiet pond on June 8 this year. With the trial due to start, prosecutor Huw Evans accepted Deakin’s late guilty plea to one of the charges. He said the other two counts would be kept on file. Detective Constable Martin Harris, from Chepstow CID, the officer leading the case, told the Argus that on the day of the offence Deakin had approached the boy and offered him cigarettes. He said Deakin then took off his clothes and committed an indecent act in front of the teenager, but did not touch him. DC Harris said: “The boy was left upset and shocked by the incident.” Police Constable Matthew Davies, from Caldicot police, paid tribute the boy’s courage in informing them. He said: “It was a potentially embarrassing situation for him to report to us and he has acted very maturely throughout.” David Goldsmith, the Scout Association’s Field Commissioner for South Wales, said Deakin was sacked as an adult helper 11 years ago. “He worked for us an adult helper for a relatively short time. “He has been placed on the movement’s blacklist and is therefore prevented from being in contact with scouts.” Caldicot 2nd Scouts’ group leader Wayne Roberts said: “The Scout Association carries out rigorous background checks on adults involved with children and in fact it was our policy to do this long before we had to comply with the Criminal Records Bureau.” Robert Buckland, mitigating, said Deakin had no previous convictions. Judge Mark Furness told Deakin that he may have received more credit for his guilty plea had he entered it at an earlier stage and warned him that he may face a custodial sentence. Judge Furness said: “The fact that I am adjourning sentence and granting you bail gives no indication of the sentence. “All options will be open to the court.” The judge asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and adjourned sentence until December 13.