Formby scout leader on trial accused of sexually molesting two teenage boys.....

Gavin Owen denies two charges of sexual assault and says alleged victims consented

A Formby scout leader has gone on trial accused of sexually molesting two teenage boys.

Gavin Owen plied one of his alleged victims - a vulnerable 17-year-old - with whiskey before assaulting him, a court heard today.

The 37-year-old electrician, of Heathfield Close, Formby, who had volunteered at his Crosby scout group for more than a decade, is accused of abusing both boys after inviting them round to his home on separate occasions.

Owen denies two charges of sexual assault and says that the alleged victims consented to what took place.

Charlotte Atherton, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Owen knew his first alleged victim was particularly vulnerable.

He had developed a friendship with him outside of the scout group and would take him for meals, to a gym and buy him presents.

On one occasion Owen invited him to a “sleep over” and began drinking Jack Daniels whiskey and also gave several glasses to the boy, who became “clearly affected.”

Miss Atherton said: “At bedtime they went upstairs and the boy said he had no choice on where to sleep and the only place was in the room with the defendant on the defendant’s bed alongside him.”

She said that while there Owen sexually abused him and although the boy, who was embarrassed, did not then reveal what had happened, he had not wanted it to happen.

“The prosecution say he [Owen] could be under no illusion that he did not want it to happen.”

She told the jury: “Owen had effectively groomed him over a number of years and it culminated in taking advantage of this vulnerable young man when under the influence of alcohol.”

Miss Atherton claimed that the second incident happened later and involved an 18-year-old friend of the first alleged victim.

He invited him to his home for lunch and then upstairs to see his sound system.

She told how the teenager said he was hot and fell asleep next to a fan in Owen’s bedroom.

Miss Atherton told jurors: “When he woke up not long later the defendant was behind him spooning him from behind and stroking his back and trying to pull down his trousers.

“He moved his hand around to the front trying to unbuckle is belt, trying to force it but he stood up and said ‘no’ and demanded he took him back home.”

She said that the teenager later texted the other boy who then revealed what had happened to him.

The offences came to light after the second alleged victim told his mum and she told the police.

Miss Atherton said that Owen “accepts sexual activity took place with both of these young men on these separate occasions but he says they both consented and the first boy led the sexual contact.”

Owen was suspended by the Scout Association when the allegations came to light in August.

Story source: Southport Visitor - John Siddle

Photo Source: Southport Visitor