Formbys Gavin Owen jailed: Devastation of vulnerable victim's mum

The mum of a vulnerable teenager who was preyed upon by a scout leader today told how she felt “devastated” at not spotting his sick intentions.

Gavin Owen, 38, was jailed for four and a half years today after abusing two teenage boys and being found with a grim haul of child porn.

He had volunteered at a Crosby scout group for more than a decade and worked in schools with disadvantaged youngsters.

The mum of his then 17-year-old victim, whom Owen plied with whiskey before sexually assaulting, today branded him a “predator”.

The teenager, who cannot be named, was “particularly vulnerable” when he was befriended by his attacker, jurors heard.

His mum said today: “He used his position in the community to find young boys.

“I thought he was a respectable adult; a scout leader who worked in schools with disadvantaged children, and used to dealing with young children. I thought he was a good person.

“In truth, he knew my son was vulnerable and he was biding his time.

“As a mum, I am devastated to think that I didn’t see through it. I feel that not only did he groom my son, he also groomed me.”

Owen was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

His second victim, an 18-year-old friend of the first victim, was also molested at Owen’s home in Heathfield Close, Formby.

When police swooped to arrest him in December 2013, they found thousands of indecent child porn images and DVDs - including a twisted picture of a baby girl.

His laptop and hard drives were seized and found to contain 940 Category A images - the most serious category - some 2,315 Category B and the rest – 10,707 – the least serious, Category C.

The mum said: “The judge has given him the maximum sentence, so we’re pleased, but it is never enough.

“I feel I am going to have to be more protective of my son now. If you can’t trust the local scout leader, then who the hell can you trust?

“My son is scared, he feels he did something wrong and that’s really difficult. It has been horrendous for him.”

Jailing Owen while handing him an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and telling him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register, Judge Denis Watson, QC, told he had been warned in the past about what was appropriate behaviour and showed “no remorse”.

He said: “There seems to be something of a flaw in your character, bordering on arrogance, that you will do what you want and think the rules do not apply to you.”

Owen, an electrician by trade, was suspended by the Scout Association when the allegations came to light last August and has now been dismissed.

A spokesman said today: “The Scout Association condemns the actions of Owen.

“The Scout Association has co-operated fully with the statutory agencies in support of their investigation.

“Owen was suspended from any form of contact with the movement as soon as the initial allegation was reported. We can confirm that he will never again be allowed to work within the Scout movement.

“The Scout Association carries out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and requires them to work to strict guidelines outlined in the ‘Young People First’ Code of Good Practice.”

Story and Photo Source: Liverpool Echo