A man accusing his childhood scout leader of sexual abuse has described how one incident “affected his life in a detrimental way”. On the third day of the trial of Ian Silvester at Lewes Crown Court, the jury heard accounts from five men who have reported alleged occasions of sexual abuse by the Portslade man. A police statement from 2020 was read out to the court, in which a man described an alleged incident in the changing rooms of a swimming pool as a boy, after Silvester, now 60, had conducted a group swimming session.
He reported being pinned down on his back on the floor of the changing room by fellow members of his scout group and tickled all over, which he says was initiated by Silvester. He described how the tickling was all over his body, including over the top of his trunks, which left him “anxious” and “breathless”. The man said that the incident had “affected his life in a detrimental way”, including making him question his sexuality.
READ MORE: Man says scout leader abused him during first aid training The court was also shown a police interview from 2020 in which one man described his experiences with Silvester. He reports being asked to clean out the scout hut with Silvester and told he would need to bring his swimming trunks with him. Upon arrival at the hut, after being picked up by Silvester in his car, he found himself to be alone with him, he said.
He added: “I didn’t think I was going to be on my own with him. “At some point I found.