Bus Pervert Gets Three-And-A-Half Years For Molesting Two Teen Girls

A bus sex pest, who molested two 13 year-old girls within an hour of each other, has been caged for three-and-a-half years.

Andrew Godman, 34, of Salehurst Road, Brockley also received a ten-year ban from the two south-east London routes and approaching girls on public transport.

He fought the charges, but was convicted of two counts of sexual assault after a Woolwich Crown Court trial.

The offences were committed on the afternoon of November 15, last year and in each case Godman sat next to the victim, blocking her in by the window seat, and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault.

The first offence was committed on a busy Route 126 bus heading towards Eltham. 

The assault lasted for around half an hour, during which time the victim told Godman to stop several times and tried to discreetly get the attention of other passengers so they could help.

Around half an hour later, he boarded a Route 273 bus in the Grove Park area of Lewisham. 

Godman was captured on CCTV groping the second victim's thigh in an assault which lasted for around five minutes, before the victim got off at an earlier stop than she intended in order to escape him.

Both incidents were reported to police, and the investigation was led by the Metropolitan Police's Roads and Transport Policing Command.

Within days of a media appeal releasing an image of Godman officers visited Godman's address resulting in his arrest.

During police interview, Godman was shown CCTV of the assaults and admitted it was him sitting on the bus with the two victims, but denied that he had sexually assaulted them.

Detective Constable Darren Barlow, who led the investigation, said: “These were appalling sexual assaults in public on two young, vulnerable girls who were understandably left shaken and distressed by the attacks.

"Despite having CCTV evidence which clearly showed the assaults, Godman denied wrongdoing and suggested that the allegations were made up, making the victims relive their experiences in court. 

“Thankfully, a jury saw through his denials.

"I hope that this result shows how hard officers in the Roads and Transport Command work to identify people who commit predatory offences on London's transport network.”

Mandy McGregor, Head of Transport Policing at Transport for London, said:“Andrew Godman is a predator. 

“He sexually assaulted two young girls which must have been terrifying for them. 

“Thanks to their courage to come forward and report the incidents, Godman was identified quickly by the police and has been brought to justice for his deplorable crimes.”