Ian Silvester, a 60-year-old former Scout leader from Locks Hill, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for committing dozens of child sex offences over a span of 25 years. Silvester, who held various positions that gave him unsupervised access to children, was found guilty of multiple charges at Lewes Crown Court.
Silvester’s roles included being a Scout leader, children’s nurse, St John’s Ambulance worker, diving instructor, first aid trainer, babysitter, and a registered nurse. He was struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council in 2015.
Judge Christine Laing described Silvester as “the very definition of a paedophile hiding in plain sight” and highlighted the immense psychological harm caused to his victims. Investigator Nicky Beard praised the courage of the victims and their families, urging other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.
