Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Child molester allowed to go camping with boy

Sunday 23 January 1994 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A MIDDLE-AGED child molester spent a weekend camping with a young boy after convincing youth club leaders he was a 14-year-old with a bizarre ageing disease, a Scout leader has said.

The 47-year-old man claimed he suffered from a glandular illness which made him look old. After several failed attempts to join the Scouts, the youth club let him in and sent him camping with a young boy.

The club realised its mistake after checking with a blacklist of child molesters, but the man had vanished.

The man, known only as Mr S, then tried to join a Scout pack in Hampstead, north London. When they refused to believe his medical story he again disappeared. Every Scout group in Britain has now been alerted.

The district Scout chairman for north London, Tony Frais, said: 'This man is a menace to society. He expects people to believe he is a 14-year-old boy with an overactive pituitary gland which makes him look old. It is outrageous.

'He used the story in a thwarted effort to join the First Hampstead Scout Group early in December. But the Scout organisation's strict vetting procedure quickly exposed his criminal record.'

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in