A paedophile scout leader is behind bars around 30 years after sexually abusing boys hoping to learn about the great outdoors.
Terry Figg, 68, who preyed on vulnerable young children after they joined the scouts, hid in plain sight whilst on bail - by campaigning against bus cuts in Watford.
The predatory former scout leader, of Stevenage, used his position to sexually abuse four boys under the age of 14, in the 1970s and 1980s, in the Orpington area of south east London.
But he was not arrested until March 2015, when he was widely known in south west Hertfordshire as a 'Save our Buses' campaigner, gathering thousands of signatures against £1.5 million cuts to public transport, despite the accusations against him.
He was pictured in the Observer (below) waving placards saying "the people have spoken, 4,546 signatures against the cuts" in May 2014, continuing to join protests for another year whist on bail.
READ MORE: Almost 1,100 people against cutting bus services after 7.30pm
Figg was found guilty of 11 offences of indecent assault on children and sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, December 12.
Detective Sergeant Samantha Townsend, from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Figg is a dangerous sexual predator who abused his position of trust to prey on young vulnerable children.
"I would like to commend the victims for their courage in coming forward and helping us to get Figg convicted."
The paedophile pensioner spent the last two years protesting alongside members of the Save Our Buses action group after an announcement it would cut services to help it save £1.5 million from its budget.
Whilst on bail for his sick crimes, he urged local residents to sign a petition and spoke out about the cuts, after moving to Hertfordshire - over 60 miles from the scout group he led.
He said in May 2015: "It is pure fantasy for the council to think these cuts to local bus services are needed and they will be going against the wishes of thousands of people who have signed our petition.
"If Cinderella relied on Hertfordshire's buses to get home from the ball she would have to leave before 7:30pm, not midnight."
He was finally charged in January this year before a jury found him guilty following a 12-day trial.
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