A LONG-TERM cub pack helper has been jailed for almost eight years for sex offences involving two young girls.

Lee Roalf, 37, was convicted of six charges of sexual activity with a child, two indecent assaults on one girl between August 2003 and September 2005, and an indecent assault on another girl between June and September 2003.

He had been a helper with the 7th Ashford Cubs for 15 years working with his father, Brian, who is group scout leader.

Andrew Espley, prosecuting at Canterbury Crown Court, said Lee Roalf had systematically sexually abused the girls, who were aged between 12 and 14, until one confided in her mother last year.

He cuddled the first girl tightly, showed her sex toys and touched her bottom as he tried to kiss her. The other girl was encouraged to engage in a sex act. Roalf repeatedly touched her indecently and made her touch him.

Roalf denied all the allegations. He described himself as a 'cuddly person’ but said that there had been no inappropriate touching.

However, Judge David Mitchell said Roalf had preyed on young children.

Tanya Robinson, defending, said Roalf was of previous good character and had not been violent towards the girls.

Roalf, a removal man, of Coast Drive, Lydd, was sentenced to to seven years and nine months. He denied all the charges.

He will be on the sex offenders register for life and was banned from working with children for 15 years.

He was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order for 15 years, which places strict controls on any contacts with children and imposes a range of other restrictions.

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