Scoutleader gets 7 1/2 years for sex with boys

A former scoutleader who sexually abused young boys has been jailed for 7 1/2 years.

John Henry Cootes, 50, appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday for sentencing on charges including three of sodomy, four of performing indecent acts on young boys and one of inducing a boy to do an indecent act on him.

The offending happened between 1970 and 1983 when Cootes was living in Christchurch. It involved four boys aged 12 to 15.

Cootes has recently been living in Blenheim.

Defence lawyer Mike Turner said Cootes, who was remorseful, had been the victim of sexual abuse.

"The abused has now become the abuser."

Cootes had pleaded guilty to spare his victims the trauma of giving evidence in a trial, as he had had to when he was a young man, said Mr Turner.

Crown prosecutor Janine Bonifant called for a lengthy term of imprisonment, saying the offending had a significant impact on the victims, was premeditated and involved a gross breach of trust.

Judge David McKegg said Cootes had joined organisations that gave him access to vulnerable young men.

"You generally have organised your predation of these young men to progress from friendship to a close guardianship to an intimate basis."

On three occasions the relationship developed to a stage where Cootes was sodomising the boys regularly.

The effects on the victims had been profound. But Judge McKegg said the impact on Cootes himself was a matter for conjecture.

"I think your remorse is more for yourself than for your victims."

The judge noted that Cootes had already served six years in prison for similar offending.

Aggravating features included the predatory escalation of the offending and that Cootes used one boy as a form of "sexual currency" during his abuse of him.

The court had earlier been told that Cootes took the boy to parks in Christchurch where gay people congregated and encouraged him to have sex with other men.

One of the victims was aged 12 when he met Cootes through Scouts and some of the offending occurred on a Scout camp when the pair shared a tent.

Another victim, who was 14, met Cootes when he went to a hostel looking for a bed.

Judge McKegg said the statements from the victims, who were now adults, made "appalling reading".

He sentenced Cootes to seven years and six months on the sodomy charges and five years on the remaining charges.

All are to be served concurrently.

- NZPA