Former Adelaide Scout master Peter James McRoberts jailed for five years for abuse of two children

A former Adelaide Scout Leader and “high risk” sex offender has said he wants to stay in SA when he is released after spending almost 20 years behind bars for horrific abuse in multiple states.

A former Adelaide scout leader who was extradited back to SA after spending a decade behind bars in Victoria has been sentenced to a further five years in prison for the abuse of two children.

But Peter James McRoberts, 52, who has been described as a high risk of further sex offending, says he wants to stay in South Australia when he is released.

McRoberts was found guilty at trial of indecent assault against two young children in the 1990s when he was living in Adelaide.

Last week, District Court Judge Nick Alexandrides said that after his SA offending, McRoberts had moved to Victoria where he had abused yet more children.

McRoberts was twice jailed in Victoria, once in the Horsham County Court for three counts of indecent acts with a child under 16, and again in Melbourne for 14 more sexual assault charges.

He was jailed for a total of 14 years with the sentence starting in 2006.

The court heard that he was extradited back to Adelaide in February 2021 to face multiple charges of indecent assault.

McRoberts was an assistant scout leader and scout leader at multiple halls in the 1990s.

He met the victims through family connections and the scouting movement.

Judge Alexandrides in his sentencing remarks said McRoberts used his position as a scout leader and family friend of the victims to groom them.

“Your offending in this case can properly be categorised as involving a breach of trust, both in your capacity as a volunteer scout leader and the friendship you cultivated with the families of the victims,” he said.

“The victims were both very young. These factors, combined with the nature of your conduct, renders this a serious offence of its kind.”

The victims were aged between six and 10 when the offending occurred.

In a victim impact statement, one told the court that her “heart races whenever she sees a scout hall”.

A forensic psychologist analysed McRoberts while he was in prison in Victoria and concluded he was a “high risk of committing a further serious sex offence if released into the community and not made subject to a detention or supervision order”.

“The court was informed that when you are released from custody you may decide to remain in South Australia if that is an option available to you,” Judge Alexandrides said.

McRoberts was sentenced to five years in prison with a non-parole period of four years.

With time already served, he will be eligible for release in February next year

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