DAVID OLIVER FROM KNAPHILL JAILED FOR ENDANGERING SCHOOLCHILDREN IN GUILDFORD AND SURROUNDINGS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, David Oliver, a 33-year-old man from Sussex Court in Knaphill, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for a series of serious breaches related to his previous convictions involving child exploitation and endangering schoolchildren.

Oliver’s criminal history first came to light in 2005 when a relative discovered images of underage girls hidden in his wardrobe, raising early concerns about his conduct around minors. His troubling behavior persisted over the years, culminating in a court appearance at Aylesbury Crown Court on March 11, where he was convicted of possessing more than 560 indecent images of children. Despite this conviction and a court-imposed five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that explicitly prohibited him from driving a school bus, Oliver continued to work in roles that put him in close contact with children.

Oliver was employed as a driver for Croydon Coaches, a company that services several schools in the Guildford area, including George Abbot School, St Peter’s Catholic School, and Tormead. Unbeknownst to his employer, he failed to disclose his recent conviction and the restrictions placed upon him. His continued employment was only uncovered after police monitored his activities and discovered that he had been working while breaching the SOPO.

On Monday, June 24, at Guildford Crown Court, prosecutor Helen Guest detailed the extent of Oliver’s violations. She explained that police had been tracking him and that he had failed to register as required after his conviction, despite being ordered to meet with authorities. When officers approached him, Oliver was dressed in a uniform bearing the name 'Excetera' and claimed he was working at the depot but insisted he did not drive any buses. However, further investigation revealed that he had indeed been operating a bus, regularly transporting schoolchildren on trips around the Guildford area.

His breaches came to light after an incident on April 26, when he was arrested following an investigation into his activities. The police found that Oliver had been driving a bus that carried children, including a trip on April 23 where he picked up pupils from Leatherhead’s St Andrew’s School. During this particular journey, he stopped the bus at Tesco Express to buy ice cream for the children—a detail that raised concerns among parents and school officials.

Oliver’s troubling history with children extends back to 2005, with earlier incidents revealing his inappropriate interest. In 2006, he was cautioned after passing a note to a young girl while on a bus, in which he apologized for staring at her and expressed that she made him “feel like a teenager again.” He also admitted to being known as “Big Dave” or “Daddy Dave,” claiming he liked to “mother some of his friends,” which further highlighted his inappropriate behavior and attitude towards minors.

During the court proceedings, the defense, represented by Lance Whiteford, argued that Oliver was a man who was terrified of his past convictions becoming known. Whiteford pointed out that Oliver’s mother, who was present in court, was unaware of his previous convictions until he breached his community order. The defense also acknowledged that Oliver posed a risk but suggested that he would benefit more from a specialized sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program rather than incarceration.

Judge Christopher Critchlow addressed the court, emphasizing that Oliver had been given the opportunity to participate in a sexual offenders’ program following his conviction at Aylesbury. Instead, only seven days later, he was found driving a school bus and carrying out trips for local schools in Guildford. The judge sentenced Oliver to a ten-year SOPO, which bans him from driving any public vehicle, including buses. Additionally, he received five concurrent eight-month sentences for breaches related to his failure to disclose his previous assault conviction and for fraudulently failing to inform his employers.

Furthermore, Oliver was sentenced to four concurrent seven-month jail terms for internet breaches, which involved accessing the internet on two separate occasions despite restrictions. The total combined sentence amounts to 15 months in prison, reflecting the severity of his violations and the potential danger posed to children and the community at large.