Between 1986 and 2013 Ian Silvester used various positions of trust, such as a Cub Scout leader, a diving instructor, a St John Ambulance trainer, a first aid trainer, and babysitter to access and befriend the young victims and their families.
The 60-year-old of Locks Hill in Portslade, used these roles to persuade young boys to do what he asked, often under the guise that they were playing an innocent game or taking part in an educational activity. Silvester was purposefully manipulating them into situations where he could inappropriately touch and molest them for his own sexual gratification.
Following his arrest, digital devices were seized from his home. Analysis of these devices found a huge amount of incriminating material, including images and recordings of the victims being assaulted by Silvester, indecent images of children, online chat logs and web search history about his sexual fetishes and sexual interest in young boys.
Following a trial at Lewes Crown Court in November, Silvester was found guilty of 79 different counts against 19 boys, including 44 indecent assaults, four sexual assaults, 25 counts of 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.
The court heard how Silvester touched and tickled the young boys in a practice he called “jungle treatment”.
The boys reported being laid on their backs with their tops removed, while Silvester tickled and stroked their chests, sometimes on top of them and using objects, including feathers and ice cubes.
Today he was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, with an additional six years on extended licence.
Emma Lile, specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Ian Silvester’s crimes are particularly disturbing given the various roles he held over many years where he was entrusted with the responsibility of caring for and safeguarding children.
“He abused these positions in the worst possible way and took advantage of young boys. Silvester tried to claim that what he was doing was innocent, denying that his behaviour was sexually motivated. However, the prosecution was able to piece together a large amount of evidence which refuted these claims and present it to a jury who saw through his lies and found him guilty.
“Silvester’s offending has had a lasting impact on the victims in this case and I would like to commend them all for speaking about what happened to them, it is because of their bravery in giving evidence that we have been able to bring this sex offender to justice.
“I hope this case sends a clear message that the CPS, working with law enforcement, will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, whenever that abuse has taken place.”
Source link
[Featured]
[Just In]
