Lancashire scout leader who wanted to play Father Christmas in schools is jailed for child sex abuse

Aaron Blake, 69, of Crofts Close, Kirkham, was arrested in December 2018 after he told someone he was hoping to play Father Christmas in local schools that year.

Aware that Blake had previous convictions as a sex offender, the worried person reported him to police and officers visited his home and arrested him.

While one of his victims had already complained to police in November 2018, Blake’s arrest a month later then led to two further victims being identified.

All the victims were boys aged between seven and 12 at the time of the offences in the 1980s, which took place in the Chorley area where Blake volunteered as a cub leader.

Investigating Officer Simon Morris said: "Blake abused these young boys over a number of years and robbed them of their innocence to satisfy his own depraved sexual desires.

"His conviction and sentence is justice for them and I commend them for their bravery in coming forward and facing their abuser through the court process."

Blake changed his plea on day two of his trial to admit one count of indecency and three counts of indecent assault in relation to his three victims.

He was jailed for five years and two months at his sentencing at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Monday, Sept 27).

He was also given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Blake was previously jailed for 9 months in 1996 for indecent assault on a 12-year-old boy. He was also convicted in 2011 of making indecent photographs of children but he was spared jail and handed a community order instead.

Full statement from Lancashire Police

Investigating Officer Simon Morris, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Op Fervent, said: "Blake abused these young boys over a number of years and robbed them of their innocence to satisfy his own depraved sexual desires.

"His conviction and sentence is justice for them and I commend them for their bravery in coming forward and facing their abuser through the court process. They have behaved with dignity throughout this investigation.

"Lancashire Constabulary remains committed to investigating allegations of this nature, no matter how historic, and no matter what the role, position and status of the alleged offender, and we would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally."