A predatory paedophile who sexually assaulted a teenage girl on a near-empty bus has been jailed for six years after a court heard he was already under investigation for attempting to groom children online.
David Gillan, 63, left his victim “crying hysterically” after sitting next to her and performing a sex act whilst staring directly at her and asking questions during the terrifying ordeal. The brave teenager managed to message her mother for help before moving to another seat, but Gillan followed her.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how another passenger intervened, alerting the driver who immediately contacted police. The incident occurred whilst Gillan was already on bail for separate child sex offences involving what he believed were 14-year-old girls.
Decoy Operations Exposed Predator
The court was told that Gillan, of Lumley Tower, Sunderland, had been communicating online with what he thought were teenage girls but were actually adult decoys working to expose predators. During these conversations, he sent sexual images and videos, requested nude photographs, and even arranged a hotel meeting which he later cancelled.
Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker revealed that when officers examined Gillan’s phone following his arrest, they discovered indecent images of children across all three categories – A, B, and C – with category A being the most serious.
The 63-year-old appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where he admitted multiple offences including outraging public decency, making indecent images of children, attempted sexual communication with a child, and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
History of Sexual Offending
The court heard Gillan has an extensive criminal record with previous convictions for 15 sexual offences dating back to 2011. He had been subject to a sexual harm prevention order until 2021, designed to restrict his contact with children and monitor his online activity.
Despite these restrictions and his previous convictions, Gillan continued to target vulnerable young people, demonstrating what the prosecution described as a “persistent pattern of predatory behaviour.
Victim’s Terror on Public Transport
The teenage victim’s ordeal began when Gillan boarded the almost empty bus and deliberately chose to sit next to her. The court heard harrowing details of how he performed a sex act whilst maintaining eye contact with the terrified girl and attempting to engage her in conversation.
In her desperation, the victim managed to send a message to her mother pleading for help. When she attempted to escape by moving to another seat, Gillan followed her, continuing his harassment until another passenger noticed her distress.
The intervention of the concerned passenger, who alerted the bus driver, led to police being called and Gillan’s eventual arrest at the scene.
Judge Condemns ‘Depraved’ Behaviour
Recorder Ian Mullarkey, sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court, condemned Gillan’s “depraved and predatory behaviour” which had caused significant trauma to his young victim.
You targeted a vulnerable young person on public transport where she should have been safe,” the judge said. “Your actions were calculated and deliberate, causing immense distress to your victim who was trapped with nowhere to go.”
The judge noted that Gillan’s offending had escalated despite previous court interventions and orders designed to protect the public from his behaviour.
Six-Year Prison Sentence
Gillan was sentenced to six years in prison and made subject to a 20-year restraining order preventing him from contacting his victim. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life and will be subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order upon his release.
The order will severely restrict his internet access, require him to make all devices available for police inspection, and prohibit unsupervised contact with children.
Police Welcome Sentence
Following the sentencing, Northumbria Police praised the bravery of the teenage victim and the quick-thinking passenger who intervened.
A spokesperson said: “This was a horrifying ordeal for a young person who should have been safe on public transport. Thanks to her courage in alerting her mother and the intervention of another passenger, we were able to apprehend Gillan quickly.”
“His extensive history of sexual offending against children shows he poses a significant danger to young people. We hope this sentence provides some comfort to his victim and sends a clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Support for Victims
The case highlights the importance of passengers remaining vigilant and willing to intervene when they witness concerning behaviour on public transport.
Support services are available for victims of sexual assault through organisations including Sunderland Counselling Service and the regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
The police urged anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault or who has concerns about someone’s behaviour towards children to come forward and report it.
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