Dewsbury Moor child sex abuse accused was ‘community spirited’ youth volunteer

Garry Hoodless, 41, was described as a good role model for children in a statement read to the jury at Leeds Crown Court today (Tuesday).

A statement from Ashley Duncan, who volunteered at Hoodless’ Dewsbury Moor-based project Moorside Minors, said the 41-year-old built a good reputation in the community.

He said he had known Hoodless for 10 years as a result of working at the youth group, which provides drama and sports activities for four to 15-year-olds.

“I have noticed how community spirited he is and he would go out of his way to help others,” he added.

“Garry and I worked closely together to run sports sessions and he had a good rapport with the children.”

He said Garry was a good role model for the children and had set up the youth charity with his wife.

Hoodless is accused of sexually assaulting two boys he babysat for in the late 1980s when he was a teenager. He is also accused of abusing another boy in the early 1990s.

Hoodless, who was living in Birstall at the time, denies 20 counts of sexual offences against the boys, including buggery, indecent assault on a male and indecency with a child.

Yesterday the father-of-three, now of Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, told the court the allegations against him were “disgusting”.