A senior Scout commissioner has avoided jail after admitting he plundered £200,000 that had been ring-fenced to pay for a two-week trip to Canada for 100 children. Robert Sidley, 46, served as the Hereford and Worcester County Scouts' commissioner, a role he held from 2017 until earlier this year.
Worcester Crown Court heard that around 100 children and volunteers had each paid just over £2,000 for the excursion, which was scheduled to take place in either July or August 2026. The Hereford and Worcester Scouts Association contacted West Mercia Police on 9th January after the funds for the trip were unexpectedly removed from a charity account.
Suspended Sentence and Unpaid Work
Sidley admitted fraud but on Monday avoided jail, receiving a 32-month suspended sentence and being instructed to complete 220 hours of unpaid work. The decision has angered a parent of one of the scouts, who described the judgement as "disappointing".
Simon Carter, from Worcester, said Sidley's crime had stolen a "once in a lifetime experience". His son was among the 100 children who had been looking forward to the adventure after more than a year of fundraising.
Parent Reaction and Refunds
Mr Carter told the BBC: "The effects will be felt long after this court case is over, and I worry about what the sentence tells young people about how seriously this kind of crime is taken."
A spokesperson for the Scouts has since confirmed that all "appropriate refunds have now been made". They said: "When concerns became known to us, we took immediate action to ensure that no young person or family was left out of pocket." The spokesperson added: "As soon as concerns emerged, Hereford and Worcester Scouts reported the matter to both the Police and the Charity Commission and fully supported the investigation throughout."
Impact on the Community
Mr Carter added: "While I am glad families have been refunded, this sentence feels disappointing given the harm that was done. Volunteers gave countless hours trying to save it, and trust in Scouting has been badly shaken. It was never just about money. Our children spent years fundraising, preparing and looking forward to a once in a lifetime experience that was taken away from them by one man."
