September 2023

Former Scout leader jailed for sexual offences on children

Police have commended the bravery of two victims after a former Scout leader was jailed for sexual offences against children.

Jonathan Withey sexually assaulted the boy and girl after meeting them at a Scout camp in 1997.

The following year Withey, now aged 42, began sexually abusing the two children, who were aged in their early teens at the time.

The girl was subjected to sexual abuse over a four-year period and the boy suffered for three years at the hands of Withey.

Withey, who was 16 when he met the children, was found guilty of two counts of rape, three indecent assaults, six counts of indecency with a child and two counts of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

On 1 September, Withey, of Tindall Close, Chilwell, was jailed for a total of 16 years with a further one year to serve on licence. He will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.