VICTIMS of a former scout leader say they feel let down by the prison sentence which will see their abuser serve just a tenth of the time he actually spent sexually assaulting boys.

Paul Cherrett, of King Richard Drive in Bournemouth, was sentenced to nine years in prison yesterday for abusing boys over 40 years.

At Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday Cherrett was told he would serve half of that time.

The 62-year-old carried out a “campaign of sexual abuse” on boys at the Butchers Coppice Scout camp and Avon Tyrrell activity centre.

Judge Peter Johnson described Cherrett’s offending as “persistent” and said that he had abused his position of trust to abuse boys as young as eight. He added: “The effect of your offending will live with your victims forever.”

But speaking after the sentencing one of Cherrett’s victim’s said he didn’t really feel justice had been served. He said: “His abuse has been going on for 40 years, but he will be out in four-and-a-half years. It just doesn’t seem right.”

Another victim told police he had gone on to use drugs and alcohol from the age of 14 due to Cherrett’s actions.

The court heard that the abuse started in the 1970s with the most recent incident taking place last year in the tuck shop at the Butchers Coppice Scout camp where Cherrett worked.

Cherrett admitted 10 counts of indecent assault of a male person, three of indecency with a child and four of possessing indecent images of children. He also pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child.

The court heard that the offences were committed in the Bournemouth area and at camps abroad.

Judge Johnson said the defendant had caused “immense harm” to his victims but he had also caused harm to the scouting movement. He said: “These volunteers selflessly give up their time to help young people. You have let them down as well.”

Fears over Cherrett’s conduct with young boys had been raised with his superiors at the Scout Association in the early 1980s. After bosses were made aware, he was banned from leading meetings.

However, he continued to act as treasurer for the organisation in Bournemouth and worked at the tuck shop up until last year.