Ormskirk Scout leader jailed for child sex offences

Former Scout leader jailed for child sex offences in Ormskirk

A FORMER Scout leader who sexually abused young boys during the 1970s in Ormskirk has been jailed.

Michael Creagh, 79, of Douglas Drive, Orrell, Wigan has today been sentenced to four years imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court after he had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent assault. He pleaded not guilty to four further counts of indecent assault.

The offences relate to three victims who were aged between 10 and 14 at the time and took place at St Annes Scout Group in Ormskirk during the mid to late seventies.

Officers launched an investigation in May 2015 after one of the victims reported that he had been sexually assaulted by Creagh while he was a member of the Scout group. Further enquiries revealed that he had also sexually abused three other boys during his time as a Scout Leader.

Creagh, who is a former priest, had previously been sentenced to nine months imprisonment at Reading Crown Court in 1992 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against a 12 year old boy. These offences took place in the 1980s at a school he taught at in Berkshire.

DC Catherine Thomas from the Public Protection Unit at Lancashire Police said: “Creagh, who is a former priest, has already served a prison sentence when he was jailed in 1992 for similar historic offences which date back to the 1980s while he was a teacher at a school in Berkshire.

“In this case he took advantage of his position of seniority as a Scout Leader and subjected his young victims to appalling sexual abuse. These offences have had a significant impact on the lives of the victims and I am pleased that he has now been brought to justice for his crimes.

“This conviction shows that we are determined to bring to account anyone who commits sexual offences, regardless of how long ago they took place. I hope that it gives other victims of sexual offences the confidence to come forward and report it to us, safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally throughout.”

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