A businessman and scouts leader was arrested on a charge of rape after being accused of raping multiple children and a 19-year-old man, according to police in the United Kingdom.
Now, 67-year-old Philip Longbottom of Shipley, has been sentenced to serve up to life in prison after pleading guilty to a total of 43 counts.
According to the criminal complaint, Longbottom sexually assaulted 12 victims. He has been charged with child sex abuse, rape and buggery.
He also charged with rape and sexual assault of a 19-year-old man. Longbottom was a respected member of the community and a wealthy businessman.
Longbottom was a scout and sea cadet leader, and helped at the church CB radio club. He systematically abused young boys for over 30 years.
Longbottom used his wealth and status to befriend and then systematically abuse young boys for over 30 years, in what amounted to a campaign of rape against multiple victims.
He groomed his victims by showering them with lavish gifts, money, foreign holidays and camping trips. He plied them with drugs and alcohol, assaulted and raped them, abusing their trust in him in the most obscene manner.