JOHN EDWARD KILGANNON SENTENCED IN COUNTY DURHAM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON BUS PASSENGERS
John Edward Kilgannon, 66, engaged in inappropriate behavior on an Arriva bus traveling from Middlesbrough to Peterlee in County Durham.He sat behind his victims and extended his arm between the seats in front to 'stroke' the girls on their sides, actions he carried out for periods of up to 20 minutes.
The court was told that these three incidents occurred between October and November of the previous year.
One of the 17-year-old victims reported the incident to police, and CCTV footage confirmed Kilgannon's involvement, leading to his arrest at his home in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham.
However, on Friday, the court decided not to send him to prison.
Instead, Teeside Magistrates Court sentenced Kilgannon to a two-year community order and ordered him to pay each victim £200 in compensation.
Prosecutor Paul Power stated that the pensioner had been drinking on each occasion and admitted that he stroked the girls 'for his sexual pleasure.' A 17-year-old victim described the assault as having a 'huge impact from a confidence point of view in terms of public transport,' and she added in her victim impact statement that she 'felt uncomfortable' when men looked at her.
Another teenage girl reported that she missed several days of college and felt 'nervous around older men' after the incident.
Liz McGowan, defending Kilgannon, emphasized his previous good character, explaining, 'He told me that alcohol lessened his inhibitions on the bus.
He's not saying it's solely the drinks' fault, but that he did this for his own sexual pleasure.
He is remorseful and has stated he has not repeated his behavior.' Remarkably, despite the seriousness of the matter, police bailed Kilgannon from November 26 until March 7, nearly four months, during which he reportedly remained preoccupied with these events.
