Father-Of-Two Sexually Assaulted 18-Year-Old Who Was Helping Him On Bus

A father-of-two sexually assaulted an 18-year-old on a bus after she tried to help him, a court in the United Kingdom heard Monday.

Dan Wachira started chatting with the victim while she was waiting for a bus in Exeter in December. He told her he was trying to go back to London and asked her for help. She agreed and spoke to the bus station office to find out when the next bus would be. She then informed Wachira there was no scheduled bus and asked him to book a ticket online.

Wachira, a Kenyan-born asylum seeker, continued to pester the victim and even asked her stay with him at a hotel. When she tried walking away, he blocked her way and grabbed her by the hand to prevent her from going away. He then kept asking her to accompany him for a drink.

When the girl’s bus arrived, he followed her inside and told her that he loved her. He again asked her to stay with him but she refused. He didn’t stop his advances even after she told him that she had a partner and that she was going back to her parents, the court heard, Devon Live reported.

CCTV footage showed Wachira whispering in the girl’s ear and touching her inappropriately. She started speaking louder, hoping other passengers on the bus would help her. However, nobody showed any interest. He then grabbed her bottom and stroked her thighs.

The victim told the court the incident had a massive impact on her life and that she had given up her job and moved away from the area.

"I was assaulted on public transport in daylight hours. This has been distressing for me. I didn't leave my house for a week as I was scared to walk around in case he was there or it would happen again. I lost all my confidence and moved to another town. I felt moving away and quitting my job was the only option for me,” the victim told the court.

Wachira told the court his actions were misinterpreted and that he was sorry for his behavior. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was served deportation documents. He was also sentenced to one year imprisonment.

"People are entitled to feel safe while using public transport. This has had a very significant ongoing impact on the victim. In her personal statement she made clear it goes well beyond the very distressing immediate impact on her. She has lost all personal confidence and felt compelled to quit her job in the local area and move away,” Judge David Evans said.

"You cannot possibly have misinterpreted the plain message she was giving you. But you continued to show an utter disregard for her wishes and started to touch her sexually. You would not take no for an answer and it seems you took advantage of her good nature and comparative youth," he added.