Scouts leader denies plying young boy with cash and pornography in exchange for sex, court hears

An ex-Scouts leader has given a court photos of his penis to defend himself against sex abuse charges.

A former Scouts leader standing trial accused of abusing a young boy has provided photos of his penis as part of his defence case denying the allegations. He also told the court he introduced a man – who was later convicted of offending against a child – to the organisation.

The accused man, whose identity is suppressed, told District Court Judge Jane Schammer convicted pedophile and former Scouts leader Mark Jason Dunnett had been a friend.

“Unfortunately I was the one who introduced Mark to the Scouting movement,” he said.

He said he was “definitely not” friends with Mr Dunnett now.

The accused man also told Judge Schammer, who is presiding over the trial without a jury, the alleged victim knew Dunnett and he had seen the alleged victim “massaging” Dunnett on a Scout camp.

He denied being left alone with the alleged victim and denied offending against the boy.

Former Scout leader Mark Jason Dunnett leaves the District Court after he was given a suspended jail sentence

The court heard the alleged victim claimed the accused man had a mark on his penis. The accused man provided photos of his penis to the court to dispute that claim.

In his closing address, Andrew Graham, for the accused man, said there was “no other evidence supporting (the victim’s) claims”.

He said the alleged victim had given “inconsistent statements” during his evidence, while his client was “an impressive witness”.

“He was a witness, in my submission, who was telling the truth and there is no reason to doubt his denials that he offended against the victim.”

The court has previously heard the accused man was a former Scouts leader at a troop in metropolitan Adelaide and had allegedly offended against the boy over several years beginning in the 1990s.

Prior to the trial he pleaded not guilty to a count of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Donna Foundas said the boy had looked up to the accused man and thought he was “cool”.

“Whilst still in Scouts the accused implemented a reward structure in which the complainant would receive rewards for sexual favours,” she said.

“The rewards started off with the provision of pornographic magazines.”

She said he “coaxed the complainant” into performing sex acts by offering the magazines

He allegedly progressed to offering the complainant money, initially $50 which reduced to lesser amounts as the time passed.

She said the offending initially occurred at the Scout hall, but also took place in the accused man’s car and other places including at a Scouts camp.

Judge Schammer has reserved her verdict, which will be delivered at a date yet to be set.

NOTE: This article has been amended to reflect the fact that at the time of being introduced to the Scout movement, Mark Dunnett was not a convicted paedophile.