A FORMER regional Scout official has admitted a string of sexual offences including one on a boy under 13.

Matthew Bell, 28, a former assistant district commissioner of the Scout movement. pleaded guilty to sexual assault on a boy under 13 and two charges of making indecent images and two charge of possession of indecent images when he appeared for a scheduled trial at Hull Crown Court.

Bell’s barrister Edward Moss asked for the charges to be put again to Bell when he made a 10-minute appearance before Judge Simon Jack at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday (September 22). Witnesses were on standby to be called for a trial.

Bell of Foresters Walk, Stamford Bridge, and who is a prison officer, pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13.

Bell admitted touching a boy and the touching was sexual. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of possession indecent images of children at Stamford Bridge and two charges of creation of the images.

Bell has been in the scouting movement since he was a youth. He became an assistant district commissioner in 2013 and has been a leader since 2009.

Mr Moss asked for a pre-sentence report to be compiled on Mr Bell’s background before he could be sentenced.

Judge Simon Jack told Bell to stand as he warned him all sentencing options were open, including custody. Bell was allowed to walk free on bail. He will be sentenced at Hull Crown Court on November 23.

He was granted bail on condition he does not have unsupervised contact with a child or young person under the age of 18.