Scout leader Ian Charles Silvester guilty of 79 child abuse offences
Former scout master Ian Charles Silvester has been found guilty of sexually abusing children as young as seven over three decades.
The 60-year-old was convicted of 79 offences following a trial in which several victims, now adults, gave harrowing testimonies of the abuse they suffered under Silvester’s care.
Silvester was trusted with the welfare of young boys in his scout troop but used his position to groom, manipulate and sexually abuse his victims during camping trips, overnight stays and other scouting activities. Many of the victims were minors at the time and described how they felt isolated and vulnerable under Silvester’s control.
As well as working as a scout leader, Silvester was also a diving instructor, a St John Ambulance trainer and a first aid trainer between 1986 and 2013. Through these roles, Silvester was able to access and befriend the young victims and their families. Some parents even entrusted him to babysit for them, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
In a statement, the CPS said: “He 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. In reality, Silvester was purposefully manipulating them into situations where he could inappropriately touch and molest them for his own sexual gratification.”
The investigation into Silvester began when one victim came forward in 2022, and subsequent inquiries revealed more survivors who had kept silent for years. Evidence presented in court included testimonies, photographs, and digital communications that supported the victims’ accounts.
Silvester denied the charges but was ultimately found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse, including indecent assault and child exploitation, on 20 November 2024 at Lewes Crown Court.
The Scout Association has issued a statement expressing deep regret and remorse, emphasising their commitment to safeguarding children and ensuring such incidents never happen again.
Silvester will be sentenced on 7 February 2025.
