Man guilty of sex assault

[Coxster]

A convicted paedophile sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl after being allowed to work with children on a Thomas the Tank Engine theme day.

George Sully, 73, who is from Hampshire, put his hand up the girl's skirt at the Hampshire Watercress Line in August 2006.

She was one of hundreds of children he had supervised while volunteering as a 1950s-style engine driver.

Sully was convicted of one count of sexual assault. He denied the charge.

The girl, who is from Surrey, was with her mother, father and younger sister when some of her family got on the engine.

'Rot in Hell'

Sully was seen touching his victim by the girl's mother and another woman.

The girl's mother said: "He should rot in Hell."

In court it was revealed Sully had a record of similar attacks on girls stretching back 38 years.

In his evidence he said he was in close contact with hundreds of children during the eight day attraction that happens twice a year.

The jury returned a majority verdict after deliberating for nine hours.

In a statement Mid Hants Railway PLC, which runs the Watercress Line, expressed "concern and regret" over the attack.

Sully has been made to sign the sex offender's register, and has been banned from working with children. He was released on bail to await sentencing.

 

[RJ]

Sickening - anyone who assaults kids should be locked up with the murderers.

 

[thefab444]

Or with the 'decent' criminals (e.g. ones with families). A paedo wouldn't last very long.

 

[Ascot]

it's people like that who put us into a bad reputation

 

[theblackwatch]

I would expect that, in light of this, many preserved railways will be considering whether they should be having CRB checks done on volunteers - which is normal practice in many other organisations where people come into contact with youngsters, such as the Scout Association.

 

[DavyCrocket]

I think that all heritage railways (just like the normal ones) should have CRB checks rolled out for ALL front of house/passenger interaction staff such as station, on-train, signalling and engine crews. This would help reduce any further similar incidents as all these people can deal with children or vulnerable people during their duties.
This provides an extra safety net for passengers, the Railway and other staff.

And as Ascot says it is incidents like this that get reported in the press that give railway preservation a bad name

 

[experts]

it doesn't happen often, i think checking is a good idea though.

 

[WessexWarrior]

I can't fault the MHR for this at all. It's fantastically difficult to ascertain these things, but justice has been done. Or will be done. Heh.