Bus driver told girl stranded on last service home 'I'll warm you up' before sexually assaulting her
01.06.2024 - 20:35
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A bus driver told a teenage girl who had fallen asleep on the last service home ‘I’ll warm you up’ before sexually assaulting her.
Damien Doyle offered the girl a lift home when she was left stranded at the depot late at night with no money. But once she got in his car he locked the doors and said: "I bet you get really horny when you're drunk.”
A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard that the 16-year-old victim had taken a bus from Queen Square in Liverpool city centre to St Helens late at night in September 2022, but fell asleep during the journey. She then woke up in the depot to find that there were no more services running that evening, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Steven Ball, prosecuting, described how she had no cash with her and did not want to call her parents to pick her up as she was "worried they would be mad". But she spotted Doyle, of Birchwood Way in Kirkby, outside as he walked back to his car following the end of his shift and approached him.
The 48-year-old offered her a lift home as a result, telling her that he had a daughter of her age and would "hate her to be in that situation". However, once inside the car, the armed forces veteran placed his hand on top of hers and said: "Oh my god.
"You're freezing. I'll warm you up."
Doyle, who had been working as a bus driver for 15 years, went on to ask her if she had a boyfriend, gave her compliments and "intertwined hands" with her. He also told her: "I bet you get really horny when you're drunk, I could take us to the beach right now."
The dad then locked the doors of his vehicle, put his hand on her leg and began stroking her inner thigh while still driving after diverting towards Kirkby.