Description
A sex offender drunkenly groped a schoolgirl after 'targeting' her on the back seat of a bus, a court was told.
Gary Ashley Wynn ignored other empty seats after getting on the bus in County Durham and made his way to the rear of the vehicle where the girl was with a friend going home from school at 4.10pm on December 11.
Durham Crown Court was told the 49-year-old defendant, who has previous sexual offences on his record, deliberately sat close to the girl, between her and her friend.
Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said Wynn engaged the girl in conversation as he drank from a can of beer, before placing his hand on the inside of her right thigh.
The incident was captured on the in-vehicle CCTV, showing the defendant leaning towards the girl with his hand moving in her direction.
Mr Cleasby said the girl, who was agitated and distressed, moved towards the front of the bus with her friend, who alerted the driver to what had happened.
The driver contacted the police, while the defendant got off the bus at the next stop, before urinating in public outside.
He was arrested and when interviewed told officers he had been drinking and could not recall touching the girl, claiming he did not think he had done so.
But, at a plea hearing at the court, last month, Wynn, 49, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of sexual assault.
A victim statement was read to the court in which the girl said she was initially angry, then unhappy when "the man" touched her.
She was worried she might have to give evidence at a trial but was relieved to be told the defendant had pleaded guilty.
But she said she had been worried about possibly seeing him in public.
It led to her initially becoming wary of men and even male teachers at school.
She has since refused to get on a bus alone.
The girl added that as time has gone on she has felt a little more assured, knowing the defendant was in custody.
She also thanked people who assisted her at the time, including her friend and the bus driver, who took immediate action.
The court was told the defendant has previous convictions for sexual assault on his record, most recently receiving a 16-month sentence in April 2023, for a similar incident involving a vulnerable female with learning difficulties, also on a bus.
He was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) after an offence of exposure, in 2021.
Jonny Walker, for Wynn, told the court there was little mitigation he could put forward on the defendant's behalf, other than the fact he "quite properly" admitted the charge at the plea hearing, enabling the victim to be informed to offer reassurance there would not be a trial.
"He would wish, through me, to apologise.
"He's genuinely apologetic for his actions and has insight into his offending.
"He recognises what he did was extremely wrong.
"It was clearly degrading and humiliating to the victim."
Mr Walker said while in custody the defendant has taken steps to engage with the drug and alcohol services as well as the education team and others who can assist him before he regains his liberty.
"He is actively taking steps to remedy those poor decision-making incidents which have troubled him over the last few years."
Judge Advocate Tom Mitchell told Wynn: "You are 49 with 16 convictions for 26 offences, some of which are of great relevance, including several for breaching SHPOs, and one conviction for knife possession.
"I have read the assessment of the Probation Service.
"It makes difficult reading.
"This was predatory behaviour, targeting a child in public, while you were intoxicated, all aggravating features of the case.
"I agree with the author of the report that you pose a high risk of causing serious harm to the public, children and particularly lone children."
Judge Mitchell said it was fortunate that the victim received prompt assistance, including from her friend and the bus driver.
"You put her in a dreadful position by your actions that day.
"What you did was degrading and humiliating on someone who was particularly vulnerable due to her circumstances, aggravated by the fact you were drunk and by your previous convictions."
Imposing an 18-month prison sentence, the judge said there was "no question" of it being suspended, given the defendant's actions and record.
He told Wynn: "I do consider you to be a real risk and I do hope in the future that risk can be managed."
The judge extended the defendant's SHPO to ten years, while for the same period he will also be subject of notification requirements as a sex offender.