A CLYDEBANK bus driver has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for sexually assaulting a lone female passenger on his late-night bus.
Robert Wallace groped the woman against her will while his bus was stationary at a terminus in January this year. He admitted his guilt over the attack when he appeared in the dock at court this week.
The woman, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was a passenger on Wallace’s bus on January 28.
It was the last bus home and, when Wallace stopped the vehicle, he struck after everyone else had left.
As reported by the Clydebank Post, the 33-year-old was the only passenger still around when Wallace, 48, initially engaged her in conversation.
He told her he thought her jumper was nice, before touching her breasts and stomach over her clothing, pushing his finger under her shirt, touching her underwear, and hugging her.
He struck a deal with prosecutors which saw him plead guilty in exchange for claims he had also tried to undress the woman and kissed her on the neck and lips deleted from the charge.
He pleaded guilty to breaking Section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 by touching the woman against her will while “on board a public services bus then stationary” in Smithhill Street, Paisley.
Sheriff Seith Ireland deferred sentence until next month at the town’s sheriff court for background reports to be prepared.
As he did so, he said: “You will have to cooperate with specialist social workers, who deal with sexual offences, in the preparation of these reports.
“I now also have to inform you that you’re subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register.
“This is for an initial period of five years but the exact length will be decided upon sentencing.”
Wallace, of Jean Armour Drive, will be assessed by social workers and professionals from the Pathways Project – an organisation in Renfrewshire which helps sex offenders change their ways.
He now has the threat of a 12-month jail term hanging over his head and is set to learn his fate next month.
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