A senior Scouts boss has been charged with fraud after approximately £200,000, raised for a children's summer trip to North America, went missing. The two-week trip to Canada for over 100 scouts from Herefordshire and Worcestershire was subsequently cancelled.
West Mercia Police stated that Robert Sidley, 46, of Worcester, has been charged with fraud by abuse of position. The charge relates to a report of theft from the Hereford and Worcester Scouts Association received on 9 January.
Mr Sidley was the Hereford and Worcester County Scouts' commissioner from 2017 until earlier this year. He is scheduled to appear at Worcester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 22 September.
The cancelled Canada visit was planned to include 100 children and 27 volunteers, with destinations such as Toronto and Niagara. Parents and Scouts had been fundraising since the start of last year, with the excursion costing £2,750 per child.