JASON MUTIMER FROM BARNEHURST SENTENCED FOR UNDERAGE SEX ON LONDON DOUBLE-DECKER BUS

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, Jason Mutimer, aged 39, a bus driver from Parkside Avenue in Barnehurst, was sentenced to nine years in prison for engaging in sexual activities with an underage girl aboard a double-decker bus. The court proceedings, held at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday, February 10, revealed the full extent of Mutimer’s criminal behavior, which included two counts of underage sex and two counts of rape.

Mutimer, who previously worked for Arriva in Dartford until June 2011, pleaded guilty to all charges. His past criminal record includes convictions from the 1990s for public masturbation and making obscene phone calls, indicating a troubling pattern of inappropriate behavior. Despite these prior convictions, current legislation does not mandate CRB checks for bus drivers, a fact that has raised serious concerns among community members and advocacy groups.

The mother of one of Mutimer’s victims, a woman who cannot be publicly identified for legal reasons, has become an outspoken advocate for stricter screening procedures for individuals seeking employment as bus drivers. Speaking exclusively to News Shopper, she expressed her frustration and determination, stating, “Everyone just assumes they have these checks. I’m not going to let it rest — I’m going to fight it to the death and don’t care what I have to do.”

Details of the case revealed that Mutimer began communicating with a 14-year-old girl via text messages in 2010. He sent her explicit messages and urged her not to tell her parents. Over the following months, from May to October, he lured her onto the top deck of his double-decker bus, where they engaged in unprotected sexual acts. The court heard that in September, he invited her to his home to babysit his daughter, during which they again had sex.

Mutimer’s misconduct extended beyond the bus, as he later boasted online about his encounters, telling a web user that he had “had” the girl “once on a bus and once in my house.” He also repeatedly texted her, asking if she was pleased to have lost her virginity to him. The police became involved after the girl’s parents discovered explicit messages on her mobile phone, leading to Mutimer’s arrest.

Further investigations uncovered that Mutimer had raped a woman in 1998, an offence that only came to light following his arrest for the underage sex crimes. The mother of this second victim expressed her shock and disbelief, saying, “I couldn’t believe she kept quiet about it for so long, I was shocked when she told me. She lost it and she told me everything he had done, it was disgusting.”

During sentencing, Judge Robinson highlighted Mutimer’s disturbing pattern of behavior, stating, “You have an inappropriate sexual interest in young women and girls and your offences show a clear escalation in the pattern of your sexual offending. You are willing and able to act on this interest.”

As part of his punishment, Mutimer was issued an indefinite sexual prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with young girls and from using any internet-enabled device capable of recording web activity. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing concern for safeguarding children from individuals with a history of sexual misconduct.

In response to the case, Richard Lewis, regional publicity manager for Arriva, stated, “CRB checks are not part of our recruitment process for bus drivers although some local authorities may request this for contracted school bus contracts. As part of our recruitment process we do request two references for each bus driver and this is always followed up. We also ask for information concerning criminal convictions during the application process.”

This case has reignited debates about the adequacy of screening procedures for public transport employees, especially those who come into contact with vulnerable populations such as children. The community and authorities alike are calling for more rigorous background checks to prevent similar tragedies in the future.