Stockton bus driver had sex with boy in woods near Chester-le-Street

Despite being told the boy was underage, Andrew Jackson picked him up and drove him to the woodland.

There, Jackson climbed into the back of his car and engaged in sexual activity with the teenager, who had become “reluctant” but went along with it, Durham Crown Court was told.

Jackson then dropped off the boy, who told his parents what had happened and they reported it to police.

The defendant had given the boy his name and told him he was a bus driver.

He was arrested and later picked out by the victim in an identity parade after making no comment at interview.

When Jackson was arrested at home, the car outside matched the victim’s description.

Police also found a phone containing messages arranging sexual activity with the boy.

Andrew Jackson jailed for six years for engaging in sexual activity with an underage boy and arranging the commission of a child sex offence (Image: Durham Constabulary)

They also found another online conversation in which Jackson claimed he had previously had sex with a 13-year-old boy.

Ben Sayers, prosecuting, said the defendant made no comment in two further police interviews.

But when the now 66-year-old, of Claymond Court, Stockton, went on trial in July, he claimed he believed both boys were 18.

He was found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of arranging a child sex offence.

Mr Sayers told the sentencing hearing that the disparity in ages was “an aggravating feature” of the case.

David Callan, in mitigation, accepted the age gap but said the complainant was only months short of 16 and showed “no hint or suggestion” of being anything other than a willing participant.

Mr Callan said Jackson has been in a 22-year relationship and worked throughout his adult life.

“He’s now paying a heavy price as he has resigned from his job, as he would have had to do.

“He’s been a bus driver and enjoyed that work.”

Mr Callan said Jackson had no drug or alcohol problems but did have health concerns.

Judge Richards Clews referred to a Probation Service report saying Jackson still appeared to deny his guilt, claiming he thought the “boy” was 18 and only pretending to be 15.

But Mr Callan said Jackson now “accepts” the jury’s verdicts, although he does not agree with them.

Judge Clews told Jackson his crimes were so serious that only an immediate prison sentence was justified.

He said, like the jury, that he was satisfied Jackson knew the boy’s age.

During the trial, the judge said the complainant had clearly stated that he had never lied about his age.

The judge said the boy had agreed to the sexual activity but became “reluctant” and felt it had gone too far to stop by the time he was in Jackson’s car.

Judge Clews described it as “predatory behaviour” by the defendant.

“You were looking for and found a boy of this age and willing to engage in sexual activity.”

The judge said the boy returned home in “emotional turmoil” and told his mother what had happened, prompting police to trace Jackson.

Imposing a six-year prison sentence he told Jackson he would serve two-thirds, or four years, before becoming eligible for release on licence.

The judge also put in place a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, for ten years, and made Jackson subject to sex offender registration for life.