A young boy molested by a Medway scout leader has become the victim of cyber bullying, a court heard today.

The child, who cannot be identified, has received threats and abuse via social networking sites.

He has also been sent a link to an article claimed to have been written in support of his abuser, 36-year-old Shaun Clark.

Clark, of Church Street, Cliffe, was formerly of the 2nd Cliffe troup.

Until this week he was also employed as an officer with the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

He admitted two offences of sexual assault on a child between January 1 2007 and July 1 last year.

The abuse involved Clark rubbing the boy's legs and chest under his T-shirt. On another occasion he stroked the boy's stomach.

He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court today to four months' imprisonment suspended for two years.

As part of his sentence Clark must complete the Home Office-accredited Thames Valley Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

The court was told that Clark, who was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years and must sign on the sex offenders' register, has now left the scouting movement.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens told Clark the sentence was not "lenient" but one which would not only punish him but also "rehabiliate him and protect others".

In a victim impact statement read out in court, the boy's mother spoke of how her son is being bullied on a daily basis, and now wishes he had not reported the abuse.

Following his arrest Clark told police he found the touching "enjoyable and sexual".