SUNDERLAND PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR SEX ACT ON BUS AND CHILD EXPLOITATION
A Sunderland paedophile left a teenage girl "crying hysterically" after he sat next to her on a bus and carried out a sex act.Loner David Gillan sat next to the girl on an almost empty bus and scared her by carrying out the vile act while looking directly at her and asking her questions.
The 63-year-old pervert left the girl terrified, but claimed he was only "adjusting" his groin area when arrested by police.
At the time of the incident, Gillan was on bail for entering into sexual chats with what he thought were two 14-year-old girls - they were actually adult decoys.
Later, indecent images of children were found on his mobile phone.
On Friday, Gillan, of Lumley Tower, Sunderland, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court via link from HMP Durham to be sentenced for three counts of making indecent images, outraging public decency, two counts of attempted sexual communication with a child, four counts of attempting to cause or incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and arranging the commission of a child sex offence.
He had pleaded guilty to the offences.
The court heard that Gillan was on an almost empty bus when he moved close to a lone teenage girl.
Helen Towers, prosecuting, said: "He immediately began [the sex act] but did not expose himself.
He was looking directly at her and asked her where she was from." The terrified girl then messaged her mother, telling her she "needed help" and then moved to the front of the bus.
Gillan then "pursued" her and moved next to her again.
The court heard another passenger saw what was happening and notified the bus driver, who then called police.
When officers arrived and spoke to Gillan, he denied the act and said he had been drinking and was "uncomfortable in the groin area and was adjusting himself".
Ms Towers said the CCTV from the bus proved his account was untrue and the girl was left "crying hysterically".
In a victim statement, she said she was left "absolutely terrified" and no longer feels safe.
She added the incident had caused "significant emotional trauma".
The court heard that Gillan carried out the offence whilst on bail for other sex offences.
Ms Towers said he contacted what he believed was a 14-year-old girl on Facebook and immediately began sending her sexual chats when the conversation moved to WhatsApp.
The court heard the girl was in fact an adult decoy.
Gillan sent the decoy a video of himself carrying out a sex act and pictures of his penis.
He even arranged to meet her at a hotel, but cancelled at the last minute, telling her: "One mistake and it could end up with me having to face the law".
Former miner, Gillan then went on to chat to another decoy, who he again thought was a 14-year-old girl.
He asked the decoy for naked pictures and said he could be her "love grandad".
Following his arrest, indecent images in categories A, B and C were discovered.
The court was told that Gillan had previous convictions for similar matters.
In 2011, he had been convicted of 15 sex offences and was under a sexual harm prevention order until 2021.
Lee Fish, defending, said: "He accepts what he's done and accepts the seriousness of it.
He struggles to fully understand why he chose to behave in the way he did." "He is a lonely and isolated individual.
His main social interaction was with people on the internet, most of which was lawful, but unfortunately, he was tempted to engage in contact which was unlawful.
He is ashamed of his offending." Recorder Ian Mullarkey sentenced Gillan to six years in prison and imposed a 20 year restraining order.
He will be on the sex offenders' register for life and a lifelong sexual harm prevention order was also imposed.
