Gavin Owen: Formby scout leader jailed for sexually abusing boys
A scout leader has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for sexually molesting two teenage boys and having thousands of child abuse images.
Gavin Owen, of Formby, Merseyside was found guilty of abusing the boys after a four-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
The 38-year-old molested the teenagers on separate occasions after inviting them to his home, the court heard.
Judge Denis Watson said Owen had shown "arrogance" and "no remorse".
The judge told him: "There seems to be something of a flaw in your character, bordering on arrogance, that you will do what you want and think the rules do not apply to you."
'Plied with whiskey'
Owen, who had also worked as an electrician, denied the charges of sexual assault and claimed the sexual activity had been consensual.
But the court heard he had groomed one of his victims over a long period of time and plied the "vulnerable" 17-year-old with whiskey.
The second incident involved a friend of the first victim.
Unknown to the jury, Owen was already awaiting sentence after admitting possessing thousands of indecent child abuse images and DVDs.
One of the images featured a girl thought to be aged only one.
The material, including 940 of the most serious Category A images, was found on a laptop and hard drives seized by police in December 2013.
Owen, who showed no emotion as he was sentenced, must also sign the sex offenders' register for life.