A former scout leader and bus service campaigner from Stevenage has been sentenced to 13 years in jail prompting one of his victims to say: ‘I hope he rots in hell’.

Terry Figg, 67, of Cook Road, molested four young boys during camping trips, swimming lessons and visits to his garden workshop in the 1970s.

He was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court yesterday after a jury trial.

Figg preyed on the boys, including two brothers, all aged between ten and 14 years old throughout the 1970’s the court heard.

They were all members of Crofton Oak scout group, based in Orpington, south-east London.

A BBC documentary concerning abuse within the organisation caused victims to come forward and complaints to be made against Figg.

A statement from one of Figg’s victims heard in court, read: “I hope that he rots in hell.

“The whole of my life has been affected. You should be able to trust these people and you realise you cannot trust anyone when something like this happens.”

As a 14-year-old the victim tried to electrocute himself as a result of Figg’s abuse and added: “I’ve had feelings in my life when I thought I’d be better off dead.

“I was unable to consummate my marriage on my wedding night because of feelings about being touched

“The whole of my life has been affected. You should be able to trust these people and you realise you cannot trust anyone when something like this happens.”

Figg fought the allegations and forced the victims to give evidence against him during the two week trial.

Now middle-aged men, his victims recounted abuse at the hands of Figg between April 29, 1970 and December 2, 1980.

Prosecutor Mr William Eagleton told the court: “The offences took place in either the workshop behind Mr. Figg’s house, where he’d rigged-up a bed and a television, or on camping trips or when swimming in Swanley.”

In recent years Figg had been a vocal campaigner against county council cuts to Hertfordshire bus services.

He was convicted last month of 11 counts of indecent assault and must also sign the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.