A Scout leader has been jailed for two years after he admitted three sexual offences against a child.
Mark Rees, 44, of Raglan Court, Hendredenny, Caerphilly, was previously the leader of 1st Aber Valley Scout troop.
Rees was sentenced at Newport Crown Court on January 18.
The three charges he admitted were: sexual communication with a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and causing a child to witness a sexual act.
The offences did not take place within a Scout setting.
Caerphilly Observer understands that Gwent Police are continuing an investigation into Rees, although the force would not confirm this.
A concerned parent, who did not want to be named, told this newspaper that when Rees took over the leadership of 1st Aber Valley in 2015, their child did not want to continuing going to Scouts.
The parent alleged that Rees had taken their child, and others, aside and asked questions about the children’s home life. No assault is believed to have taken place in this instance.
A spokesman for the Scout Association said it had co-operated fully with the statutory agencies throughout the investigation.
He said: “It is appropriate that Rees has pleaded guilty and will be suitably punished for his crimes.
“Rees was suspended from all involvement with the Scout Movement as soon as we were made aware of the investigation.
“The Scout Association carries out stringent vetting of all adults who work with young people and requires them to work to a strict code of practice.”
The spokesman confirmed that Rees had been fully checked and vetted via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
When asked by Caerphilly Observer for a custody picture of Rees and further information about the ongoing investigation, Gwent Police refused both requests.
In a statement, the force said: “At this time we will not be commenting further or releasing a custody image.
“Gwent Police will not release a photograph of an individual if it has suitable grounds to believe it may compromise a person’s safety (the person whose safety may be compromised may not necessarily be the subject of the photograph request), or future police operations.”
Caerphilly Observer asked for the specific reasons behind the decision, which was made by head of public protection, Detective Superintendent Leanne Brustad, and was told these would not be disclosed.