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Burnham Scout leader David Burland guilty of abusing children | Burnham Scout leader David Burland guilty of abusing children |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A scout leader in Somerset has been found guilty of 33 sexual offences against children. | A scout leader in Somerset has been found guilty of 33 sexual offences against children. |
David Burland, of Ramsay Way, Burnham-on-Sea, was convicted of carrying out the abuse over a 23-year period. | |
Burland, 54, worked in the Scout movement in the Burnham and Highbridge area where the offences were committed between 1987 and November 2010. | |
He will be sentenced at Taunton Crown Court later. He was suspended from the Scouts when the allegations surfaced. | He will be sentenced at Taunton Crown Court later. He was suspended from the Scouts when the allegations surfaced. |
The 33 offences related to three boys and a girl. | The 33 offences related to three boys and a girl. |
'Open up' | 'Open up' |
Det Con Mark Fudge, from Avon and Somerset police, said: "He hid behind his role as a Scout master and hoped people would not report him. | Det Con Mark Fudge, from Avon and Somerset police, said: "He hid behind his role as a Scout master and hoped people would not report him. |
"Someone did report his inappropriate behaviour and an investigation was quickly launched. | "Someone did report his inappropriate behaviour and an investigation was quickly launched. |
"This uncovered other victims and I applaud them all for the strength it must have taken to come forward. This demonstrates that we take all allegations of abuse seriously and will explore them thoroughly." | "This uncovered other victims and I applaud them all for the strength it must have taken to come forward. This demonstrates that we take all allegations of abuse seriously and will explore them thoroughly." |
A spokesman from the Scout Association said: "Burland was suspended from any form of contact with the movement as soon as police began their investigations and he has not been involved with the movement since his arrest. | A spokesman from the Scout Association said: "Burland was suspended from any form of contact with the movement as soon as police began their investigations and he has not been involved with the movement since his arrest. |
"We can confirm that he will never again be allowed to work within the Scout Movement. | "We can confirm that he will never again be allowed to work within the Scout Movement. |
"The Scout Association has co-operated fully with the statutory agencies during this case." | "The Scout Association has co-operated fully with the statutory agencies during this case." |
During the trial, one of Burland's victims, told the court how he was forced to watch a pornographic film when he was 14 years old. | During the trial, one of Burland's victims, told the court how he was forced to watch a pornographic film when he was 14 years old. |
He told the jury he had not wanted to watch the film but Burland had forced him to. | He told the jury he had not wanted to watch the film but Burland had forced him to. |
He said: "I have never felt anything like it before or since. I just wished the ground would open up." | He said: "I have never felt anything like it before or since. I just wished the ground would open up." |
The defence accused the witness of making up his story, to which the alleged victim said: "That's simply not true." | The defence accused the witness of making up his story, to which the alleged victim said: "That's simply not true." |
During the trial, Burland took the witness stand and denied the allegations made against him, saying they were a "complete invention". | During the trial, Burland took the witness stand and denied the allegations made against him, saying they were a "complete invention". |
He also told the court the allegations began when he threw out a teenager from his unit for discussing sexual issues with other younger scouts. | He also told the court the allegations began when he threw out a teenager from his unit for discussing sexual issues with other younger scouts. |