A “large amount” of images of young boys and men were found on the devices of a man accused of sexual abuse, a court heard.

Ian Silvester, 60, is accused of 83 counts of sexual abuse against 19 boys and young men over a period of around 30 years across Sussex.

Silvester, of Locks Hill in Portslade, held various positions working alongside young boys, including as a diving instructor at a swimming club, a scout leader, a babysitter, a volunteer for St John’s Ambulance and an independent first aid trainer.

Data, made up of pictures and videos of young boys and males often in speedos, for example wrestling or being tickled, was found on Ian Silvester’s devices by police amounting to 14 terabytes, prosecutor Lesley Bates told Lewes Crown Court. 

One image was found to be category A, one category B and 35 category C, jurors heard. Some were said to be captured by himself and others were believed to have been sourced from the internet. Category A is the highest category with some of the worst examples of sexual abuse.

READ MORE: 'Vulnerable' boys and young men were 'groomed' by first aid trainer, court hears

The court heard that the images were split into folders and subfolders which, Ms Bates says, may have been “so he could easily find what he wanted to look at”.

One video said to be shot by Silvester, over 10 minutes in length, was shown to the court. It showed a boy between the ages of 11 and 12 with no top on, mowing the grass in what appeared to be a fenced garden.

Ms Bates said: “He (the boy) was engaging in a completely innocent activity.

“He (Ian Silvester) considered it interesting enough to capture it and keep it.

“It proves the lie that he has no interest in young boys.”

The court heard that Silvester was interviewed five times from 2009 to 2023, each time denying any sexual interest in young boys.

READ MORE: Ex-scout leader accused of 83 counts of sex abuse 'boasted he had the perfect cover,' court hears

In 2010, Silvester told police that all that he did “was to train them to be a casualty” and that his methods of using cold objects on their bare chests such as cans, ice cubes and water were designed to make sure they did not flinch and to imitate blood or cold hands.

In 2021, he stated that there was an “innocent explanation” for his actions and that “none of it was inappropriate”.

In his most recent interview in June 2023, Silvester was reported to have told police: “All that I did with them was to train them to be a casualty.”

He added that he treated the boys like family and “he had been stupid but his conduct was not sexual”.

Silvester 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.