Bus driver placed on sex register

Feb 27 2009

A PERVERT bus driver who told a 15-year-old girl to stand at the back of the bus in case people thought he was having sex with her has been spared prison.

Andrew Gilliland also made lewd comments when a 14-year-old girl showed him her bus pass.

The 64-year-old grandfather has been place on probation for a year after a sheriff was satisfied that the bizarre incident was a one-off.

Ayr Sheriff Court earlier heard that the two pals boarded the bus at Kincaidston Drive in the early evening.

When one of the teens showed Gilliland her bus pass he made the remark about the photo before telling the other girl she couldn’t stand at the front of the bus because people would think he was in a sexual relationship with her.

This week, defence lawyer Shirley Foran told Sheriff John Montgomery that married Gilliland had since lost his job and was now on benefits.

Ms Foran added: “This was not premeditated, he did not intend to cause offence. He is a man from quite a different generation and he is shocked at the level of offence which has been caused.”

Placing him on the sex offenders register for a year with probation, Sheriff Montgomery said: “I’m satisfied that this can be classed as inappropriate, unthinking and that there’s nothing more sinister than that.”