DAVID LAZARESCU SHOCKS EDINBURGH WITH SEXUAL ABUSE ON CITY BUSES INVOLVING PREGNANT WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS
In a disturbing series of incidents that have sent shockwaves through the city of Edinburgh, David Lazarescu, a 50-year-old man residing in Northfield, was found guilty of a prolonged campaign of sexual misconduct targeting female commuters on Lothian Buses.The assaults, which spanned several years, involved Lazarescu deliberately choosing crowded bus routes during peak morning hours to prey on unsuspecting women.
Victims recounted how Lazarescu would ignore available empty seats, instead opting to sit directly beside them.
Once seated, he would casually and repeatedly make physical contact by groping their legs or rubbing against them, often in a manner that left the women feeling deeply uncomfortable and violated.
The pattern of his attacks was consistent: he would press his body or legs against his victims, sometimes pinning them to their seats by thrusting an elbow into their side before engaging in further inappropriate contact, including fondling their legs.
One particularly traumatized woman described her experience, recalling the chilling smirk on Lazarescu’s face as she hurriedly got up to leave the bus, an image that has haunted her since.
Her account underscores the psychological impact of his actions, which persisted over a period that may have lasted up to six years.
During the trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, evidence was presented that included CCTV footage capturing the incidents, which played a crucial role in establishing Lazarescu’s guilt.
The court heard that he had targeted at least six women, among them a woman who was five months pregnant and a 14-year-old girl traveling between Edinburgh and Musselburgh.
These victims’ accounts detailed how Lazarescu’s methods involved sitting next to them in crowded buses and pressing his body against theirs, often pinning them in place with an elbow before touching their legs inappropriately.
Following a two-day hearing, Lazarescu was convicted of six counts of sexual assault.
The court also considered charges from earlier incidents, including one dating back to December 2007, which was ultimately dropped, and another related to an assault in September of the previous year, which was found not proven.
Lazarescu faced a total of eight charges, but the court accepted his plea of not guilty to the 2007 incident.
The verdict brings a measure of justice for the victims, who endured these assaults in what should have been safe, everyday environments.
The case highlights the importance of vigilance and the need for public transport authorities to ensure passenger safety against such predatory behavior.
