James Clark

James Clark, a 72-year-old former school bus driver from March, Cambridgeshire, has been jailed for indecently assaulting a teenage girl in the 1980s. The assaults occurred on multiple occasions between 1985 and 1987 while Clark was transporting the victim on his bus in Cambridge.

The case came to light decades later following concerns raised about Clark's behaviour during that period. Officers from Cambridgeshire Constabulary contacted the victim as part of their investigation into historical sexual offences. Despite the passage of time, the force pursued the matter, demonstrating that there is no statute of limitations for prosecuting such crimes.

Clark, residing at Noble Gardens in March, denied four counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16. However, following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, he was found guilty on 16 January. The court heard details of how Clark targeted and abused the victim, exploiting his position of trust as a bus driver responsible for schoolchildren.

On 23 February, at the same court, Judge David Farrell KC sentenced Clark to a total of 42 months' imprisonment. This comprised 21 months to be served in custody, with the remaining 21 months on licence in the community. The sentence reflects the severity of the offences and their lasting impact on the victim.

Detective Constable Alice Tasker, who led the investigation for Cambridgeshire Constabulary, commented: 'Clark targeted the victim in this case and abused her in the most shameful way. What happened has had a devastating impact on her life.' She praised the victim's bravery throughout the process and emphasised the importance of reporting historical abuses.

This conviction underscores the commitment of Cambridgeshire Constabulary to tackling sexual offences, no matter how much time has passed since they occurred. The case was reported by the Cambs Times, drawing on details from court proceedings and police statements.