Former Scout leader Ian Silvester has been jailed for committing dozens of child sex offences.
Silvester, 60, of Locks Hill in Portslade, held a number of positions and owned businesses that gave him unsupervised access to children over several decades.
He worked as a Scout leader, children’s nurse, St John’s Ambulance worker, diving instructor, first aid trainer, babysitter, and a registered nurse and registered children’s nurse.
Silvester was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2015.
Over a period of 25 years – between 1986 and 2011 – Silvester sexually assaulted 19 boys linked to several of his roles of trust, including the Scouts and his various businesses.
Many of the assaults took place under the guise of ‘first aid training’, during which Silvester would sexually touch his victims.
Following Silvester’s arrest, digital devices were found containing more than two million media articles suggesting a sexual interest in young boys, including 68 indecent images of children.
He was subsequently charged and found guilty of 44 counts of indecent assault, 25 counts of non-penetrative sexual activity with a child, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 13 and two counts of making an indecent image of a child.
At Lewes Crown Court on Wednesday, 20 November, he was found guilty of all charges.
At the same court on Friday (7 February), Silvester was given a 22-year sentence, with 16 years to be spent in custody and an additional six years on extended license.
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