ANDREW SILVERWOOD FROM DRIFFIELD AND LECONFIELD JAILED FOR SHOCKING VOYEURISM AND SEXUAL OFFENCES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the military community, Andrew Silverwood, a 47-year-old Army instructor from the areas of Driffield and Leconfield, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of eleven years and nine months at Hull Crown Court. The court heard how Silverwood engaged in a series of heinous acts involving the covert recording of soldiers during their rest breaks, actions that betrayed the fundamental trust placed in him as a military instructor.

Silverwood was found in possession of numerous indecent photographs and videos stored on his computers. These materials included footage captured secretly using his mobile phone, which he used to record soldiers in the toilets of cafes and other public places while they were on duty or during training exercises. The recordings targeted soldiers of varying experience levels, from young recruits as young as 17 to seasoned veterans who had served in Afghanistan, highlighting the breadth of his disturbing misconduct.

His method involved hiding his phone in public toilets during stops, where he would record soldiers as they relieved themselves. Silverwood also took advantage of moments when trainees were inspecting vehicles, encouraging them to bend over so he could take unauthorized photographs without their knowledge. These acts of voyeurism were committed during drives across Yorkshire, particularly while he was teaching at the Defence School of Transport in Leconfield, near Beverley.

When sentencing Silverwood, the court was told that his actions represented a gross betrayal of the trust placed in him by the military. Recorder Nicholas Lumley QC emphasized the importance of trust within the armed forces, stating, “You were in a position of great trust within the Army, where all individuals, from civil servants to privates and officers, all the people employed, rely on each other. Trust is fundamental in the Army and you betrayed that trust by what you did.”

In addition to the voyeurism charges, Silverwood admitted to abusing two teenage boys. The first victim, whom Silverwood preyed upon during his time in the Territorial Army in the 1980s, was a boy who shared Silverwood’s interest in the military. Silverwood manipulated him by providing alcohol and pornography before sexually abusing him. The abuse was so severe that the boy would sometimes wake up to find Silverwood performing sexual acts on him. This pattern of abuse continued until Silverwood moved away from the East Riding town where the boy lived.

Years later, the same boy visited Silverwood at his flat and discovered an old Polaroid photograph of himself naked, along with a similar picture of another child. The boy was so distressed that he told Silverwood to destroy the images. Prosecutor David Gordon explained to the court that the boy felt ashamed and embarrassed, which is why he had not reported the abuse earlier, only coming forward recently.

Further investigations revealed that Silverwood had also abused another boy starting when the youth was just 14 years old. The police investigation was triggered after this second victim found indecent images of children on Silverwood’s mobile phone and computer devices. Authorities uncovered a collection of indecent images and videos, ranging from levels one to five in severity, with level five being the most serious.

Silverwood faced multiple charges, including two counts of gross indecency, two counts of indecent assault, voyeurism, making indecent images and films of children, and engaging in sexual activity with a child. His actions have been condemned by the military, with an Army spokesperson stating, “All those who are found to fall short of the Ministry of Defence’s high standards or who are found to have committed an offence are dealt with as appropriate, up to and including dismissal.”

Silverwood’s case has highlighted the importance of safeguarding and the need for vigilance within military ranks, especially when individuals entrusted with training and leadership positions commit such grave misconduct.