A scout leader, Anthony Allen, who exploited young boys at multiple camps has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
The sex offender, Anthony Allen, exploited youngsters, some as young as eight, in their residences and scout clubs throughout Essex.
Anthony Allen, 27, of Plaistow, Newham, received a sentence for six counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child under 15.
The charges pertain to eight children from the 25th Newham East Scout Group, that Anthony Allen had volunteered at for ten years, until he was suspended last year pending the inquiry.
The charges occurred against victims, all male, aged between eight and sixteen, who were subjected to abuse at different intervals throughout a four-year span from January 2013 to September 2017. They occurred at numerous locales, including residential addresses and scout camps in Essex, Kent and Wales.
Throughout the duration of the abuse, Anthony Allen served as a teaching assistant for one year and subsequently as a learning mentor at a primary school.
The inquiry commenced when one of his victims, upon learning that his younger brother was about to transition from cubs to Anthony Allen’s scout group and would also be endangered, informed his mother that he needed to withdraw him from scouts to ensure his safety.
Initially, his mother perceived the comment as a jest; however, upon her eldest son reiterating the claims to other relatives, she engaged the police.
The initial formal report led to other victims coming forward and calling police.
Anthony Allen also enlisted as a volunteer in the Army Reserves and was deployed in Estonia for training with his unit, 7 Rifles G Company, who are based in West Ham, when the allegations first surfaced.
When police identified Anthony Allen he was abroad with his army unit and he was flown back to England for questioning.
He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in mid-September 2017, interviewed and then released on bail.
He then temporarily disappeared after leaving ‘suicide notes’ at several of his victims’ houses.
Anthony Allen’s computer was seized from his home address and he was arrested over offences relating to making and possessing images and videos.
During the trial the prosecution outlined examples of Anthony Allen grooming different boys, firstly by initiating text message conversations which would begin as banter, which would then progress to inappropriate chat focusing on male physique, and progress again to explicitly sexual language.
One tactic the predator used was to ask victims to send him photos of them exercising their bodies as evidence for their progress towards a so-called ‘fitness’ badge.
He took advantage of the close physical proximity fostered by seasonal scout camping trips. He would surprise victims in the toilets or persuade them into his tent under the false shield of seeking support while the young boys were away from home, but they were then trapped by Anthony Allen into unwanted physical intimacy.
He abused his victims ‘hundreds of times’
One boy, who was first assaulted by Anthony Allen at the age of 10, estimated sexual touching had occurred on 60 to 100 occasions.
Anthony Allen also used the technique where he would insinuate himself into the wider family by befriending parents and children to win their trust. Parents consistently told police how helpful and supportive he was, assisting with errands and taking the children out for day trips, leading officers to note they had been equally groomed.
One one occasion Anthony Allen assaulted a 13-year-old victim in his own bedroom while the boy’s mother and younger sibling were downstairs in the garden.
Another victim came forward to police and said Anthony Allen was looked up to as a role model by members of the group and several, including himself, viewed him as a second father.
One victim called him ‘dad’ as he was taken out and about by Anthony Allen just as a parent would.
Another boy was so embarrassed at the memory of the explicitly sexual suggestions that Anthony Allen had made to him that he was unable to say them out loud and had to write them on a note he handed to officers.
A mother of one of the younger victims spoke after court, she said: “I’m really hurt by what Anthony Allen has done as he has taken what can never be replaced. His actions have impacted on our day to day lives as he didn’t just abuse him physically but has scarred him mentally for life.
“He has left us shocked to the core and we will never trust anyone again. He had a group of children that was full of life and working towards bettering themselves and their community but took this opportunity to gain trust then abuse it.
“My heart goes out to the families of all the victims that have been taken in and had their trust abused.
“I can’t thank the police enough for all they have done to get this conviction – they have been amazing to me and to the child victims.”
Scouts statement:
A statement from Scouts, reads: “We are very sorry for the distress and hurt caused to Antony Anthony Allen’s victims and their families. We are utterly appalled by what has happened; the actions of Allen were illegal and unforgivable.
“As soon as we were made aware of Allen’s actions we removed him from Scouting and have co-operated fully with the statutory authorities during their investigations.
“We have been working hard to support the parents of the victims and provide them with any help they might need. This includes helping them to continue to take part in Scouting, if that is what they want to do.
“We have ensured that all of the volunteers working in this Scout District have undertaken a refresher of our safeguarding training.
“In addition, we have launched an inquiry as a result of this case to ensure that we identify any lessons that result in enhancing our safeguarding process and procedures for the future to ensure we keep children and young people safe in Scouting.”
PC Bruce Upson, Met Officer who led the investigation, praised the bravery of the young boys who helped bring Allen to account.
Upson, from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: “These children have shown great courage throughout the investigation. Their actions in finding the strength to come forward and report the matter has prevented other potential offences occurring.
“Allen was a predatory offender who used his well-established position as a scout leader to gain access to children and commit sexual offences against them whilst along the way earning the respect and trust of families.
“If there is anyone else out there who believes they or someone they are close to may also have been a victim of Allen, I would urge them to contact us a soon as possible on our dedicated NSPCC hotline number of 0800 048 0278 quoting ‘Operation Stanhope’.
Allen first appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on October 4, 2017, where he was remanded to attended the Old Baily on November 1, 2017.
He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, April 13 and sentenced for a total of 11 years for 12 sexual offences involving minors, as well as, making 30 Category C images of children he know, possession of three category A images, 28 Category B images and 611 Categeory C images. These also included one Category A video, and ten Category B videos.
The charges in full in which Anthony Allen, 27, of Plaistow in Newham was sentenced:
- six offences of sexual assault of a child under 13
- six offences of sexual activity with a child under 15
- making 20 Category C images of children he knew
- possession of three Category A images
- possession of 28 Category B images
- possession of 611 Category C images
- possession of one Category A video
- possession of ten Category B videos
Allen was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the sexual offences above.