A BUS driver sexually assaulted a teenage girl on the top deck of his bus after she complained about bullying, a court heard.

Shaun De’Ath, 55, denies indecently assaulting two teenage girls across two separate spells between 1998 and 1999, and 2005 and 2006.

Lori Tucker, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court, said the two victims had both gone on to engage in sexual relationships with De’Ath.

She said one victim claims the first incident took place when she was a young girl

The other victim claims sexual contact first began on De’Ath’s bus between 2005 and 2006, when she was a school-age teenager.

Ms Tucker said: “She went to speak to him, the defendant, about bullying in particular.

“She had some chewing gum in her hair.

“The bus stopped and she and the defendant went upstairs to talk.

“She told him about the chewing gum incident and she became upset and was crying.

“He began, she thought quite fatherly, cuddling her.

“She thought no more about it, but the following day again on the bus again went upstairs and had a chat with the defendant.”

The court heard on this occasion De’Ath touched the girl inappropriately.

Ms Tucker said: “She said it tickled and she didn’t like it.

“He said OK I won’t carry on and he kissed her on the check and went downstairs and carried on driving the bus.”

On another occasion, again on the bus, the court heard the defendant began kissing the girl and touched her inappropriately.

The court heard a sexual relationship then commenced between the defendant and the girl.

De’Ath, of Albrighton Croft, Colchester, denies four counts of indecent assault and seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

The trial continues.