CHRISTOPHER MCINTOSH SHOCKS FIFE WITH SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND DANGEROUS DRIVING ON BUS ROUTES
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Fife, Christopher McIntosh, a 38-year-old bus driver from Dundee, has been found guilty of engaging in inappropriate sexual activities with a 15-year-old girl while operating a passenger bus late at night.The incident took place during a series of journeys on the routes between St Andrews and Glenrothes, where McIntosh was employed by Moffat and Williamson.
According to court proceedings, McIntosh deliberately sat the underage girl on his lap and carried out sexual acts with her while he was behind the wheel of the bus.
The court was shown footage from the internal CCTV camera installed on the vehicle, which captured approximately 16 minutes of the two-hour journey.
The footage revealed the girl and McIntosh in close proximity within the cramped confines of the driver's cab, with the driver and passenger engaging in intimate contact.
Further evidence presented in Dundee Sheriff Court indicated that during these journeys, which occurred between March 20 and April 10 of the previous year, the pair used a mobile phone while McIntosh was actively driving.
The footage showed McIntosh and the girl in a state of close physical contact, with the driver’s attention diverted to his phone, raising serious concerns about safety and negligence.
The court heard that McIntosh, who was responsible for driving late-night buses, would meet the girl during these trips, often when no other passengers were present.
The sexual encounters included kissing and embracing, with the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, involved in repeated trysts during these journeys.
McIntosh admitted to these acts during the trial, acknowledging his inappropriate conduct.
In addition to the allegations of sexual misconduct, McIntosh faced charges related to dangerous driving.
On April 10, 2023, he was caught on CCTV driving the number 64 double-decker bus carelessly across various roads in Fife.
The footage showed him with a child sitting in the driver's seat beside him, with his arm around the child, while he repeatedly looked at his mobile phone.
The footage, though of lower quality, was sufficient for the court to observe these dangerous behaviors.
Prosecutor Michael Robertson emphasized the risks involved, stating, “The CCTV is from an older bus and is not the best of quality, but there is a 16-minute video clip.
The Crown have libelled that the accused drove dangerously as a child was sitting in the driver's seat alongside the accused, who had an arm round the child, and repeatedly looked at a mobile phone whilst driving.
You can see the accused driving with a female passenger in the cab while he was in his official capacity working as a bus driver.
You can see the illumination of the mobile phone.
The Crown argue that there are risks to driving a large vehicle while using a mobile phone, whether there are passengers or not.
Looking at a mobile phone is a distraction and a risk and having a passenger in the cab whilst driving the bus is a risk.
The Crown submit it is dangerous.” Defense solicitor Larry Flynn acknowledged the evidence, stating, “There is no argument that he was the driver.
The driving was captured on CCTV.” Although McIntosh was initially charged with dangerous driving, the court found him guilty of a lesser charge of careless driving due to the unclear quality of the CCTV footage.
Sheriff John Rafferty deferred sentencing to allow for social work reports to be prepared and ordered that McIntosh’s details be added to the Sex Offenders Register.
The court also granted him bail pending further proceedings.
It is believed that McIntosh was aware of the girl’s age from the outset, as she had initially presented her child's identity card to obtain free travel on the bus, indicating a level of premeditation and awareness of her underage status.
This case has raised serious concerns about safety, misconduct, and the abuse of trust by a public service employee in Fife.
