A former cub scout leader, swimming coach and first aid instructor has been given a 22-year sentence for 79 counts of sexually abusing 19 boys over about 30 years.
Ian Silvester, 60, of Locks Hill, Portslade, was jailed for 16 years and told that must serve at least two thirds of his term in prison and a further six years on licence.
Silvester had denied the offences and was convicted in November after a trial at Lewes Crown Court.
He was jailed today (Friday 7 February) at the same court by Judge Christine Laing, the honorary recorder of Brighton and Hove.
Judge Laing told Silvester: “You are the very definition of a paedophile hiding in plain sight. You are a prolific sex offender … targeting young boys repeatedly for your sexual pleasure.”
Lesley Bates, prosecuting, said: “All of these offences involved a gross abuse of trust, grooming and targeting of victims.
“There was a considerable manipulation of families and parents, particularly lure victims away from their home. The harm has been considerable and in many cases persistent and ongoing.
“He must have known that his behaviour was unwelcome and inappropriate and caused upset an distress.”
Miss Bates said that he had confronted about his behaviour a number of times and investigated by the police at least four times.
He was made the subject of an order to restrict his access to children but whenever he looked like landing in trouble, he moved on and took a different approach to continue abusing boys.
Miss Bates read from a number of victim impact statements prepared by many of those who had given evidence at his trial.
One of his victims said: “As a child I was raised to always listen to and obey an adult’s instructions.
“Ian Silvester took advantage of this. He did so maliciously, intentionally and deceptively. It’s had a lifelong impact on me.
“I was a seven-year-old child. He was an adult. He knew how to manipulate me.”
Silvester left him with “lifelong scars” and feelings of deep sadness, having been a nurse and a trusted family friend, but “he used it to pursue his depraved interests”.
The former Hove cub said: “I physically recoil whenever anyone touches me unexpectedly – even those I love.
Another cub/scout master. It seems it’s either that or a vicar or private school teacher.
Should be a mandatory, life means life sentence and castration.
And a mandatory life sentence and castration would help how? It would not help the survivors of his abuse. That door closed when he committed his awful crimes. It would not deter others from committing the same offence (vis. the death penalty in the USA has not reduced the numbers committing murder). He will likely die in prison, so society is protected from him committing further offences. The sentence you propose would only serve your sense of outrage and wish for retribution.
Surely the effort should be invested in reducing the number of people who are tempted to commit these crimes, by early identification of those at risk of committing them and then managing the risk. Let’s try to stop the crime happening in the first place.