STEPHEN BOULTON FROM BRISLINGTON JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BRISTOL

In January 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Boulton, a long-standing member of the Scouting Association residing in Brislington, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses against children. The incident came to light after a young child within a scout group disclosed a distressing experience that ultimately led to Boulton's arrest and subsequent conviction.

It all began when a mother noticed her child behaving unusually and, upon questioning, learned that her child had put their hand down her trousers. When she asked her child why they did this, the child responded, "Why, that’s what Akela does to me?" This revelation prompted immediate concern and action. It was soon uncovered that Stephen Boulton, who had been a respected figure within the scouting community for many decades, had previously been advised about inappropriate touching. Despite this warning, Boulton had, on two separate occasions, placed his hand down the trousers of two different children, touching their bare backsides.

At Bristol Crown Court, Boulton, aged 72, pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual assault involving children under the age of 13. The presiding judge, Euan Ambrose, sentenced him to 28 months in prison. During the sentencing, Judge Ambrose emphasized the gravity of Boulton’s actions, stating, "You had previously been warned about your behaviour regarding a different child. Your actions had a significant impact on each child. Only immediate imprisonment constitutes appropriate punishment."

In addition to his prison sentence, Boulton was subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which is intended to prevent any future offending. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade and was explicitly barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.

The prosecution, led by Anjali Gohil and presented via video link, detailed how the first child’s parents contacted the police after their child disclosed the abuse. Boulton was subsequently arrested and taken in for questioning. Initially, he denied any wrongdoing. However, police investigations revealed that Boulton had previously received advice from the Scouts’ safeguarding team following an earlier incident, though he was not charged at that time.

Further disclosures emerged when another young person came forward, revealing that Boulton had put his hand down their trousers, touched their bottom, and made inappropriate comments such as, "You like that, don’t you?" During a subsequent interview, Boulton prepared a statement denying any sexual intent, attempting to justify his actions.

The father of the first complainant expressed the profound impact the abuse had on his family, stating that Boulton had breached their trust. Despite this, he praised his child’s bravery, saying, "We are incredibly proud of our wonderful, brave [child]." The mother of the second complainant shared her feelings of distress and anger, describing herself as feeling "disturbed, upset and sickened" by the abuse. She expressed regret for not having the strength to report the matter sooner, acknowledging her feelings of helplessness.

The young victim also wrote a note, expressing a desire for justice and hope that their experience would prevent other children from suffering similar abuse. They stated, "I hope to get justice so I can forget about it. I don’t want more children to go through what I have."

Emma Martin, representing Boulton in his defense, acknowledged her client’s remorse and the pain caused by his actions. She emphasized that Boulton, who had been involved with the Scouting Association for many decades, was highly regarded by many within the community. She expressed hope that, if given the chance, Boulton would undo his wrongs and expressed regret for his misconduct, which had caused significant harm to the victims and their families.