Former Scout leader Ted Pitfield, 75, charged with 8 historic child sex offences

A former Geelong scout leader has fronted court after being charged with historic child sexual abuse offences.

Scouts Victoria said it was aware of the charges.

A former Geelong scout leader has fronted court after being charged with historic child sexual abuse.

Edward Pitfield, 75, who also goes by Ted, fronted Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for a brief filing hearing.

He has been charged with one count of encourage a child under 16 to engage in or be involved in sexual activity, six counts of sexual assault of a child under 16 and one count of sexual activity directed at another person.

Mr Pitfield stood down as group leader of 1st Geelong Scouts in December 2023, a role he held from 2011.

A Victoria Police spokesman said it was understood the alleged incidents happened over several years.

Detectives from the Geelong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team interviewed the then-74-year-old Leopold man in early 2024, the spokesman said, and he was subsequently charged.

Mr Pitfield was last year awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2024 Australia Day honours for his services to youth and the community.

Along with his involvement with Scouts since the late-1960s, Mr Pitfield has also been involved in several other community organisations including the Leopold War Memorial Committee and Geelong Try Boys Brigade.

Scouts Victoria executive manager Jon McGregor said the organisation was aware of the charges, having been notified by police, and took such matters extremely seriously.

“When we were notified, we took immediate action to support the youth and adults of 1st Geelong Scout Group, ensuring open communication and providing resources for those affected,” Mr McGregor said.

“In circumstances like these, Scouts Victoria has robust policies and procedures in place,” Mr McGregor said.

“Upon receiving advice from police that an investigation is underway, our procedure is to proactively suspend the member involved.

“We are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community and continually strive to foster open communication and provide necessary support for families and individuals during challenging times.”

Mr Pitfield will next face court on March 11, for a committal mention.

His lawyer told the court she had already been served with the case’s handup brief.

A handup brief includes the evidence a prosecution will seek to present to the court in any given case.

Originally published as Former Scout leader Ted Pitfield, 75, charged with 8 historic child sex offences