DARREN CARL CROYDON PERVERT WHO MOLESTED SCHOOLGIRLS ON BUSES GETS SENTENCE CUT

In a recent development in a disturbing case originating from Croydon, a man named Darren Carl, aged 52 and residing on Goodhew Road, has seen his prison sentence significantly reduced following a series of criminal acts involving the molestation of schoolgirls on public buses.

Initially, Carl was sentenced to 25 months behind bars at Croydon Crown Court on April 11 of this year after he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual assault and breaching a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO). The court records reveal that in May 2014, Carl had previously been incarcerated for 12 months due to eight separate offences related to sexual misconduct involving young girls on buses.

The SOPO, which was imposed for a period of ten years, explicitly prohibited Carl from sitting or standing next to females aged 16 or under on any form of public transportation. Despite this clear restriction, Carl's actions in October 2015 demonstrated a blatant disregard for the order. According to Judge Neil Bidder QC, sitting in London’s Appeal Court, Carl deliberately sat next to two schoolgirls, aged 12 and 13, who were dressed in school uniforms, on a bus. This occurred even though there were vacant seats available elsewhere on the vehicle.

As the bus journey continued and the girls prepared to disembark, Carl moved his leg to allow the younger girl to pass. However, he then shifted his leg back to obstruct her friend, forcing the girl to squeeze past him. During this uncomfortable passage, Carl seized the opportunity to grab the girl’s right buttock and thigh area, an act that left her visibly traumatized. The victim, who was only 12 years old, was so distressed by the incident that she was unable to travel by bus for three months afterward.

Following the sentencing, Carl’s legal representatives argued that his prison term was excessively harsh and should be reduced. They highlighted that Carl had acknowledged his attraction to young girls and had taken steps to seek help, including visits to his general practitioner and a psychiatrist. Furthermore, the court was informed that Carl had been cautious to avoid times when children were traveling to and from school, attempting to minimize encounters.

Judge Bidder, however, emphasized that Carl’s actions represented a deliberate violation of the SOPO, which was a serious breach. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that this was Carl’s first breach and that he had made efforts to avoid contact with schoolgirls. Based on these considerations, the judge, sitting alongside Mr Justice Openshaw, concluded that the original sentence was “manifestly excessive” and decided to reduce Carl’s jail term to 18 months.

Judge Bidder also reminded Carl that a revised 10-year SOPO remains in effect, which explicitly bans him from boarding or traveling on any form of public transport while the order is active. This order is designed to prevent any further incidents and protect potential victims from similar harm. The case underscores the ongoing concerns regarding sexual misconduct on public transportation and the importance of strict enforcement of protective orders to safeguard vulnerable individuals in Croydon and beyond.