John Edward Bates

John Edward Bates, who served as a Scout leader and police officer, perpetrated serious sexual abuse against young boys in the Scout movement during the 1970s and 1980s. Bates held positions of trust, including Scout Leader with the 1st Moulton Scout Group and later the 6th Spalding Scout Group, as well as Assistant District Commissioner for the Scouts in the local district. Concurrently, he worked as a Police Officer with Lincolnshire Police from 1976 to 1983.

The abuse came to light following an investigation by Lincolnshire Police, leading to Bates' first conviction at Nottingham Crown Court in July 1983. He was found guilty of indecently assaulting 11 young boys, aged between 11 and 15, whom he targeted through his role in the Scouts. The offences occurred between approximately 1975 and 1982. Bates was sentenced to four years' imprisonment. During the sentencing, Mr Justice Park addressed Bates directly, stating: "It is plain that since 1975 you have been a menace to all boy scouts between the ages of 11 and 15, right up to 1982 when at long last your activities were brought to light. You introduced these boys, either willingly or unwillingly, to the most disgusting sexual practices". This conviction highlighted the profound betrayal of trust by Bates, who exploited his authority to commit the assaults.

Further investigations revealed an extended pattern of abuse. In May 2016, Bates faced additional charges spanning from March 1972 to October 1989. He was convicted on 16 counts of indecent assault and 2 counts of indecency with a child, involving more victims from his time in the Scouts and possibly beyond. For these crimes, Bates was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment at a subsequent hearing. The total impact of his actions affected numerous boys, causing long-lasting trauma, as evidenced by a civil claim brought by one survivor who suffered serious sexual and emotional abuse between 1978 and 1981, when aged 11 to 14.

The case underscores the vulnerability of children in institutional settings and the delayed justice often sought by survivors. Limited documentation from the 1983 conviction has prompted appeals for witnesses to assist ongoing civil proceedings, aiming to support victims in their pursuit of closure. Bates' dual roles in the Scouts and police amplified the severity of his offences, eroding public trust in these organisations.