NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2007

Police Knew School Bus Driver Was Paedophile
March 8, 2007

POLICE have come under fire for allowing a convicted Nether Langwith paedophile to carry on working as a school bus driver.

Gareth Crowther was convicted in January at Gloucester Crown Court for molesting a 14-year-old girl he had groomed on the internet.

Yet the 37-year-old pervert, from Nether Langwith, was allowed to return to his job as a school bus driver in the Worksop area with Johnson Bros Tours, after he was freed while awaiting sentence.

The Hodthorpe bus firm and Nottinghamshire County Council said they had no idea Crowther was a convicted paedophile.

"Our client is surprised and alarmed that it was not notified by either the police or Crown Prosecution Service of a charge and then conviction of a person in their employment," said a solicitor representing Johnson's, of Hodthorpe.

"Our client would wish to reassure all customers that it has always carried out, and will continue to carry out, appropriate checks of all their employees commencing employment and regular annual checks."

The bus company said it suspended Crowther as soon as it was informed of his conviction last week. He has since resigned.

"Our client's strict policy on employing any coach driver is to carry out the appropriate checks with the Criminal Records Bureau and with the County Council.

"The appropriate checks were carried out (in March last year) on Gareth Crowther before he was offered a position as a coach driver by our client."

A spokesman for Notts County Council said there is a strict policy which requires every bus contractor used on schools services to carry out Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on new drivers and annual checks on existing drivers, as well as checking the List 99 database of people banned from working with children.

"We are concerned and disappointed that the relevant authorities have not informed us or the bus operator of Mr Crowther's conviction, which took place this January.

"Another List 99 search on Mr Crowther has been carried out this week which has still not revealed any offences and we will be passing on our concerns to the Government department that updates this list."

Nottinghamshire Police defended their decision not to inform Crowther's employers of his conviction.

"Gareth Crowther was not breaking the law or breaching any conditions of his bail in continuing to work as a bus driver," said Supt Bob Ross.

"The police have a joint responsibility with the probation service to manage sex offenders, following conviction and sentencing, and follow a thorough risk assessment procedure in deciding if and when to inform an individual's employer.

"Police had actively visited Mr Crowther on 19th February 2007. Following the visit and subsequent enquiries, the information available to the police at the time did not give cause to disclose Mr Crowther's conviction to his employer.

"Notts Police would like to inform members of the public that Mr Crowther is not currently living at his home address in Nether Langwith.

"Members of the public who would like to discuss any issues further can call Pc Jason Crofts at Notts Police on 01909 500999 or mobile 07887 601334, or Pc Carl Newton or Pc John Egerton at Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 3333."

Crowther is due to be sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on Monday.

back to News

top