A FORMER bus driver was today jailed for 13 years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a catalogue of offences against 11 vulnerable boys spanning over 20 years.
Gavin Bowie, from Halifax, was convicted on 8th April this year, after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The Court heard the 64-year old’s offending initially began in 1977, and continued in various locations up until July 2000.
The ages of his victims ranged from 12 to 16-years-old.
Trust
Bowie’s job as a bus driver gave him the opportunity to befriend a number of his older victims who he invited to his house and offered them cigarettes alcohol, drugs and money in order to gain their trust before carrying out the abuse.
He was sentenced at at the High Court in Livingston today.
Speaking after the sentencing, Jennifer Harrower, Procurator Fiscal, High Court, West of Scotland said: “Gavin Bowie carried out a protracted campaign targeting boys solely in order to fulfil his own sexual gratification.
“His despicable actions have left permanent mental scars on some of his vulnerable victims.
Brave
“Thanks to the incredible bravery of his victims in coming forward to report what happened to them, it has been possible for us to bring him to face the full force of the law for his crimes.
“I would urge any victims of sexual crimes, even ones which occurred decades ago, to come forward and report them.
“They will be treated with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity by the police, our expert prosecutors around the country and in our National Sexual Crimes Unit, and we will do all we can to deliver justice.”
