A former scout leader used his positions of power to abuse young boys, a court heard.

Ian Silvester appeared in the dock at Lewes Crown Court to face the 83 charges of abuse against 19 boys and young males over a span of around 30 years.

The 60-year-old held various positions of power including scout leader, a diving instructor, a first aid trainer and a babysitter for the young boys he came into contact with.

The court heard that in an email, Silvester, of Locks Hill in Portslade, stated that these acted as the “perfect cover” for the alleged abuse against boys as young as seven, continuing for some into adulthood.

Prosecutor Lesley Bates reported that he wrote in another email that his “kink” started during his time with the scouts, despite telling police officers that he received no sexual gratification from the alleged incidents.

The court also heard how Silvester would become a “trusted member of the family” of the young boys suffering the alleged abuse, offering babysitting to parents and continuing the behaviour in their homes.

READ MORE: Scout leader and babysitter accused of dozens of historic sex offences against boys

Ms Bates detailed a number of alleged incidents of touching of young boys and males, laid on their backs with their tops removed, while Silvester is said to have tickled and stroked their chests, sometimes laid on top of them and sometimes using objects, including feathers and ice cubes.

In a summary of the case, Ms Bates said: “It was about being in a position of power.

“It was about submission and having someone to dominate.

“He befriended boys and their families and was taken in and trusted.

“To some he became part of the family.”

During his time with the scouts, Silvester was said to call the touching “jungle treatment”, where it was made into a “game” or an “activity”.

One of the alleged victims told officers that he did what Silvester said as he was raised to do what adults told him to. 

READ MORE: Scout leader and babysitter denies 76 offences against boys

The court was shown two compilations of footage from Silvester’s time teaching diving at Worthing Swimming Club and delivering his “first aid training”.

In the diving footage, he filmed young boys jumping off a diving board “with a particular focus on the genital area” and their swimming trunks.

Meanwhile, the second bout of footage showed Silvester stroking and tickling a young boy’s chest for a prolonged period of time.

Ms Bates detailed the abuse of two boys who were said to be subjected to the touching and stroking, described as “like foreplay” by one of them.

Silvester was arrested in 2019, when police searched his property and uncovered the footage of young boys on his devices.

He has pleaded not guilty to all 83 counts of indecent assault, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault and possession of indecent images of children.

The trial continues.