Sex-beast scout leader jailed for 10 years

David Ferron . . .jailed for abusing young boys in his care

A FORMER scout leader who abused a number of young children in his care has been jailed for 10 years.

David Ferron, who lives on the Chadderton and Middleton border, abused nine young boys aged nine to 14 over 10 years.

The 61-year-old, of Mills Hill Road, admitted 33 counts of various sexual offences including sexual assault, indecent assault, gross indecency and possession of indecent images.

On Friday he was jailed at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, and ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register for life.

Between 1987 and 2001, Ferron was the leader of the 5th Middleton scout group, based in a large scout hut on Durnford Street, Middleton.

He changed its status to a quasi-military youth group known as the Phoenix Rangers, where all the young boys wore military uniforms that Ferron supplied.

As the only leader, Ferron, known as “The Colonel”, was so involved in the group that he moved into the hut and took it as his home. He organised sleepovers and camping trips, during which the sexual abuse of the boys took place.

In 2001, the Rangers were disbanded when Ferron was convicted and jailed for a year for possessing indecent images of children. At that point, none of the members of the group disclosed to police they had been abused.

However, in 2009 two men came forward and told officers what had happened.

Ferron was arrested and his computer was seized. Forensic analysis revealed a number of indecent images of children and an investigation was launched.

A further seven men disclosed they had been abused as children.

Det-Sgt Kevin Branney said: “As a scout leader, the parents of these young boys put their trust in Ferron and had no reason to believe he would not look after them.

“However, he took that trust and abused it in the worst way imaginable. He used his position as scout leader to get close to these young boys and then abused them.”

She praised the men for their bravery in coming forward and reliving what they went through.

The case illustrated that Greater Manchester Police takes all reports of sexual abuse, no matter when they happened, very seriously, she added.

Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can contact MP on 0161 872 5050, or 999 in an emergency, or Manchester’s St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161-276 6515.