A former Scout leader charged with indecently assaulting boys told jurors he was victim of a “hate campaign”. Former magistrate Trevor Richardson, 69, of Barton Seagrave, Northants, was district commissioner of the Kettering Scouts Association. He denies indecently assaulting five boys from 1966 to 1972. Mr Richardson told Leicester Crown Court on Thursday that he was the victim of a hate campaign orchestrated by one of the alleged victims. Mr Richardson was awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to Scouting after 40 years as district commissioner of Kettering Scouts’ Association. His accusers, now in their late 40s but then aged 11 to 16, came forward when one of them met Mr Richardson at a social gathering. Jurors at Leicester Crown Court have heard allegations that Mr Richardson carried out acts of indecency against the boys during first aid lessons and rehearsals for a gang show. Mr Richard said the accusations were lies. “I personally think it’s been orchestrated by one of them, I’m not mentioning any names.

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