Charity criticises community for not supporting sexual abuse victims, Burnham (From Bridgwater Mercury)

Charity criticises community for not supporting sexual abuse victims, Burnham

1:52pm Friday 10th February 2012 in News

A REPRESENTATIVE of charity which worked with the victims who were abused by a former scout leader has criticised the community for not supporting them.

David James Burland, 54, of Ramsay Way, Burnham, abused three boys and girl between November 1987 and November 2010.

He was found guilty of all 33 counts of sexual abuse at Taunton Crown Court following a two week trial earlier this month.

But the charity spokesman said it had been a difficult ordeal for the victims, with some people calling them liars.

She said: “The community saw him [Burland] as respectable and the opinion of some was that the children weren’t telling the truth.

“It put them under a great deal of pressure and there were many times they wanted to retract their statement.

“This has been a very frightening experience for the children. It would a frightening ordeal for adults. I’m amazed but very pleased that they have gone through with it the whole way.

“I don’t understand why people would behave in such a way. I suppose people tend to believe adults rather than children.”

She said she is grateful the children came forward and that justice has been done

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