BURNHAM-ON-SEA EX-BUS DRIVER BRIAN DAVIS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR ABUSING TWO GIRLS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Burnham-on-Sea, Brian Davis, a 70-year-old former bus driver, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to multiple counts of sexual abuse involving two young girls. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of misconduct that spanned several years, culminating in Davis’s eventual confession and subsequent conviction.

According to court records, Davis owned up to his first victim that he had engaged in inappropriate touching. This confession came after the girl challenged him about his behavior, but she chose to keep her ordeal to herself for many years. It was only after Davis’s admission that authorities learned of a second victim, who also reported being subjected to abuse by him. The revelations prompted a police investigation that uncovered the extent of Davis’s misconduct.

At Bristol Crown Court, Davis pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault on a 17-year-old girl and one count of sexual assault by penetration on an 11-year-old girl. The court heard that the abuse inflicted upon the younger girl was particularly traumatic, although she was not physically harmed. Instead, she suffered significant emotional distress, including feelings of shame, depression, and extreme stress. The older victim also experienced severe emotional consequences, with reports indicating she had engaged in self-harm as a direct result of her abuse.

Judge Mark Horton addressed Davis directly during sentencing, emphasizing the lasting impact such abuse can have. He stated, “It is impossible for the court to guess at the long term damage that may have been caused.” As part of his sentence, Davis was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his future activities. Additionally, he was permanently barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, and he was prohibited from making any contact with his victims.

The case came to light in August of the previous year when a schoolgirl confided in a friend about her abuse. This disclosure prompted police and social services to intervene. During the investigation, the girl recounted how Davis had groped her private parts. Further inquiries revealed that another girl had also been victimized by Davis in the past. The second complainant described her experience as emotionally damaging, though she was not physically injured. Her account highlighted the profound psychological toll the abuse had taken on her, including depression and stress. The first victim’s suffering was compounded by her self-harming behavior, which she engaged in as a consequence of her trauma.

Defense lawyer Nicholas Clough argued that Davis had initially persuaded his first victim not to report the abuse, which delayed the investigation. He also noted that Davis had voluntarily given up his job as a bus driver, a role that involved transporting schoolchildren, to prevent further contact with minors. Clough described Davis’s current lifestyle as isolated and lonely, emphasizing that prison would be particularly hard for him given his age and the nature of his convictions. He concluded by suggesting that the sentence would have a significant impact on Davis’s life, which he described as markedly different from that of many other offenders.