April 2018

Paedophile contacted boys on Xbox Live

A paedophile who once worked as a mascot at Blackburn Rovers has been sent back to jail after being caught with indecent images of children.

In 2012, Scott Allan Henderson, 30, was jailed for 40 months for performing sex acts via a webcam with boys as young as 14 he had contacted through Facebook.

He also had obscene video clips of children.

As part of his sentence Henderson, who was one of several volunteers who dressed up as Roar the Lion for matches at Ewood Park, was given a court order limiting his contact with children.

Following his release from prison Henderson, now of Barn Meadow, Clayton Brook, but formerly of the Wensley Fold area of Blackburn, was monitored by the police’s sex offenders management unit.

And during a visit by officers to his home in September 2016 he was found in possession of previously undisclosed internet enabled devices.

When the officers inspected the devices they discovered contact with a 12-year-old boy via Facebook and an Xbox games console which placed him in breach of the court order given on sentence.

Henderson was arrested in August 2017 and bailed pending a decision on charges.

During that time police received a phone call from the parent of a 14-year-old boy who had been contacted by someone on Snapchat using the name ‘undrawingtiger’ A second investigation began and Henderson was identified as the person who used that name.

He was arrested for a second time and charged on November 28 with breaching the court order.

Henderson was subsequently charged with four more breaches of the court order plus two counts of making indecent images of children in relation to the September 2016 offences.

He appeared in the dock at Preston Magistrates Court in February and pleaded guilty to all charges.

Appearing at Preston Crown Court this morning Henderson was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Judge Mark Brown, The Honorary Recorder of Preston.

July 2012 – Sentence cut to 29 months

April 2012

Former Blackburn Rovers mascot jailed for three years for sex offences

A MAN who worked as a mascot at Blackburn Rovers has been jailed for three years for sex offences involving youngsters.

Scott Henderson, 24, was one of several volunteers who dressed up as Roar the Lion for matches at Ewood Park.

Police said he performed sex acts via a webcam after contacting boys as young as 14 through Facebook.

He also had obscene video clips of children.

He was arrested in October 2010 and has now been jailed for 40 months at Preston Crown Court after he earlier pleaded guilty to seven charges.

Henderson, of the Wensley Fold area of Blackburn, admitted two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three counts of making indecent photographs of a child.

All the charges relate to incidents in September, March and April 2010.

After Henderson was first charged with the offences 18 months ago he was relieved of his duties by Blackburn Rovers.

During the course of his duties as Roar, he would appear as the mascot at games, as well as attending children’s birthday parties.

Henderson also helped out at the club’s indoor football centre next to the Darwen End.

Following his arrest police seized his computer and found a number of indecent images of young boys.

Neil Fryman, prosecuting, told the court the one youngster had been befriended by Henderson on Facebook and had received a message which said: “Have I told you how good looking you are? I’m gay. Don’t say owt.”

The victim then received a web-cam invite which said: “There’s something interesting I want to show you” from the defendant.

Henderson moved the camera down to show him wearing a Blackburn Rovers jumper but he was naked from the waist down. The court heard how the boy could clearly see the defendant committing a sex act.

On Henderson’s computer police found records of conversations with boys via the internet and a number of images of naked teenage boys and children.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Henderson had struggled in the past to come to terms with his own sexuality and was bullied as a child. He also said the defendant found it hard to form relationships with people, especially those of his own age.

Mr Hackett added: “There wasn’t any sexual touching, but obviously there was sexual activity over the internet.”

Judge Pamela Badly said: “I am particularly anxious that there should be no criticism of the institution where he worked. They take care of their youngsters who attend and a lot of very good work is done with the children.”

Judge Badly said Henderson was to be disqualified from working with children and subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

Det Insp Claire Holbrook said: “This was a very serious offence against children and my department works extremely hard to ensure that sad individuals like Henderson have to face the full weight of the law.

“I am pleased that he has pleaded guilty and that none of his child victims have to give evidence at court.

“It doesn’t go unnoticed, and is taken extremely seriously, that this man worked with children in an environment where he was in a position of trust.”