A MAN who was sexually abused as a child by a scout leader believes there are more victims who have yet to come forward.

Former scout master Kenneth Thompson, of Monnow Way, Newport, was sentenced to four years in jail last Monday, September 18, after previously pleading guilty to four counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16.

Thompson sexually abused the 13-year-old boy at a farm house in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, on two weekend trips away in 1973 and 1974, Newport Crown Court heard.

The victim, Philip Cosh, has waived his anonymity to encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

Mr Cosh, 57, said when his parents divorced, his mother lost the use of both her arms after taking an overdose

He joined the scouts, when Thompson was leader, and at first looked forward to it, as he had to help out with many household chores.

But when Thompson offered to take him away for the weekend, he was repetitively sexually abused.

He said the abuse felt as though it was "never-ending."

"I used to like working on the farm, but then there was always that at the end of the day," said Mr Cosh, of Sickert Close in St Julian’s, Newport.

"It was every night, I just used to go scared stiff. I used to stiffen up on the bed.

"He would take me to a pub in Monmouth and get me drunk and then take me to the farm and after that he would have his way again."

Mr Cosh described Thompson as like a "father figure" at a difficult time for his family.

"He knew all about my mother and he just took advantage," he added.

"He took advantage of a very vulnerable family at the time."

At the time of the abuse, Mr Cosh said he was too young to understand what was happening, but when he was around 16 it began to affect his life.

Having spent time in prison and suffered with depression, Mr Cosh said the experience has "ruined his life."

Now, having reported the abuse to police in 2015, Mr Cosh is urging other victims to come forward.

"Anybody who has been through this needs to do something about it because it is just festering inside them," said the dad-of-five.

"I know it because it does with me."

Decades after suffering the abuse, Mr Cosh reported the incidents to police in 2015.

He says he believes Thompson may have abused others.

Despite feeling the sentence is too lenient, Mr Cosh said the news that Thompson was jailed was like a "weight lifted."

He added: "It's one of those things you just don't want to talk about especially if you are a fella.

"It's not easy, but I feel better every time I talk about it. I'm just sorry I didn't years ago."

Thompson, who was leader of scouts in Cardiff, was dismissed in 1995 over concerns about his suitability to work with young boys, Newport Crown Court heard.