DOUGLAS NEILL, TADWORTH BUS DRIVER, SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN SURREY

In October 2010, a former Tadworth bus driver named Douglas Neill, aged 56 and residing on Merland Rise, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offences. Neill was found guilty of 13 separate charges related to abusing a 12-year-old girl and pleaded guilty to one count of common assault against her, who is now 18. He was acquitted of four additional charges at the conclusion of his trial on August 24.

Neill's abusive conduct began in late 2004 when he started pressuring the young girl to perform sexual acts on him and in front of him. The victim, whose name is protected for legal reasons, initially made a complaint about Neill’s behavior but withdrew it prior to law enforcement intervention. The allegations were later reactivated after Neill became violent towards her.

Judge Peter Moss stated, “Far from being deterred by what she complained about, you did not change your attitude towards her one bit. When [the victim] was 12, you debauched her, corrupted her and abused her. You preyed on her innocence, convincing her that physical contact between you and her was normal.”

Neill, who has an 18-year-old partner with whom he has a child, is also required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life. His partner, who is 38 years younger than him, stormed out of court upon hearing the sentence. Judge Moss commented on the situation, saying, “I also take into account that, while in prison, your young partner may not wait for you.”

Detective Constable Katie Baines, leading the investigation, remarked, “This was a very thorough, protracted and complex investigation which required extreme sensitivity towards the victim. At no point has Neill expressed any remorse for his horrific crimes, but I hope the investigation and subsequent prison sentence will help his victim move forward with her life. She displayed immense bravery throughout this traumatic process, and I hope her strength, along with the sentence, reassures her and the community that Surrey Police will always take decisive action to bring offenders to justice.”