Scout chief accused of historic sexual abuse takes his personal life

A Scout chief accused by two girls of sexually assaulting them once they have been youngsters took his personal life, an inquest has confirmed. The physique of Phillip Perks was present in a storage unit on the Penarth and District Scouts (PADSAC) hut on March 14 final yr – a day after he was bailed by South Wales Police.

Mr Perks, 55, from Dinas Powys, who was identified domestically as Pinky, led Les Pugh’s Own Explorer Scout Unit in Penarth, simply south of Cardiff, for 20 years.

He was arrested and questioned by police over the historic abuse allegations shortly after his alleged victims made studies in the identical month.

The two alleged victims, who at the moment are of their 30s, stated the abuse occurred once they have been each aged 16 and members of the Scouts.

After Mr Perks’ demise, the ladies accused the organisation of making an attempt to “silence” them and raised issues concerning the organisation’s safeguarding procedures.

They have since launched a civil declare in opposition to the Scouts.

At South Wales Central Coroner’s Court on Thursday, space coroner Patricia Morgan concluded Mr Perks’ medical reason for demise was hanging and that he died by suicide.

During the listening to, the court docket heard Mr Perks had been arrested at his dwelling on the night of Saturday, March 12.

After being questioned, he was returned dwelling within the early hours of Sunday morning.

Several hours later, at round 9.30am, Mr Perks left his tackle after talking briefly to his spouse and daughter.

In a press release learn to the court docket, Mr Perks’ spouse stated earlier than leaving the home, her husband had apologised to her, however had given no signal he meant to hurt himself.

Mr Perks visited a fellow Scout chief’s home to return gear, paperwork and keys to him, telling him he was taking time away from scouting because of the complaints made in opposition to him.

He then headed to the Scout hut the place he was later discovered after his household made a lacking particular person report back to police.

A toxicology report discovered he had no medication or alcohol in his system on the time of his demise.

Pc Ian Bell from South Wales Police went to the hut with a colleague and stated no cell phone or letter was recovered.

His GP, Dr Vicky Lord, from the Dinas Powys Medical Centre, stated Mr Perks had no vital medical historical past and no historical past of psychological well being issues.

Family members together with his sister, Julie Anne Perks, expressed “shock” he had harmed himself.

Ms Perks described her brother as a dedicated member of the Scouts and somebody who cherished the outside and woodworking.

Less than two years earlier than his demise in 2020, Perks had obtained Scouting’s highest award.

His alleged victims declare that earlier than going to the police they reported the abuse twice earlier than to leaders throughout the Scouts, as soon as within the mid-2000s after which in 2016.

Mr Perks was saved on as a frontrunner by Scouts Cymru till his suspension from the organisation days earlier than his demise.

A Scouts commissioner was suspended from his place and is the topic of an inside investigation for a “failure to report an incident within the given timescales”, in response to an e-mail despatched to volunteers of Cardiff and Vale Scouts.

The Scouts have beforehand stated its “number one priority” was the security of younger folks in its care with everybody working to a “strict code of practice”.