Scoutmaster used camps to isolate and sexually abuse boys
A scoutmaster used his position to lure young boys into isolated areas where he sexually abused them, it has been revealed in court.
An elderly man has been jailed for his historical sexual abuse towards children that were in his care while on scout camps.
Martinus Nicholas Hulsman was found guilty by a jury of one count of persistent sexual abuse of a child, four counts of indecent assault and two counts of doing an indecent act with a child in the Tasmanian Supreme Court.
His offending relates to the sexual abuse of one boy back in 1976 as well as four other boys between 1983 and 1987 who were all members of the Devonport scout group. He also abused another boy that he befriended.
The boys were all aged under 16 years at the time.
The now 87-year-old, who is legally blind, has a significant hearing impairment and other health issues, was aged between 42 and 53 during his predatory offending.
During Hulsman’s sentencing last week, the court was told the father of three used his position as the Scoutmaster to create circumstances where he was alone with the boys.
He would sleep with them in a tent during a Scout camp or on one occasion in his bed at home.
It was also revealed that he had been interviewed by police four times about his offending since 1999.
Justice Michael Brett said Hulsman’s conduct was “systematic” and involved “predatory behaviour”.
“It evinced a clear pattern of utilising your position and authority as a Scoutmaster to bring the boys into the privacy of a tent so that you could perpetrate the abuse,” he said.
“Each child must have found the experience terrifying and traumatic.
“Not only were they all very young, but some were emotionally vulnerable at the time because of the loneliness and unfamiliarity of being away from home on camp, and you were the person whom they trusted and relied upon for their safety and wellbeing.
“It is difficult to imagine the terror and confusion each must have felt when he realised that you were not, in fact, his protector but rather someone to be feared and who intended to harm him.”
It was said in court that Hulsman was later expelled from Scouts after complaints were made about him, but his offending continued after had befriended a 13-year-old boy and his mother.
The man groomed the young teen and again found ways to get him alone by organising camping and fishing trips and putting himself forward as “a father-like figure”.
Twice the boy woke in a tent to find Hulsman sexually abusing him.
“It goes without saying that such behaviour and the inherent misuse and abuse of these positions is evil and despicable and rightly deserves the condemnation of the community,” Justice Brett said.
“There has been no genuine expression of remorse nor acceptance of responsibility. You have avoided true accountability for your conduct until now.
“It is likely that you will spend all or at least the majority of your remaining life in prison.”
Despite Hulsman’s health and age, Justice Brett handed down a jail term of eight years, with a non-parole period of four years.