Potential victims of paedophile who worked as Calderdale bus drive urged to contact police

Gavin Bowie has been jailed for 13 years for historic sex abuse against boys

Sex beast Gavin Bowie, 64, was jailed for 13 years for carrying out serious sexual offences against young boys in Glasgow, Cumbernauld and other parts of Scotland from 1972 to 2000.

Bowie’s offending finally came to light after a chance meeting with one of his victims who boarded the bus he was driving in Halifax. The victim,now 36, who can not be named for legal reasons, had also moved to Halifax after being abused by Bowie in Scotland 20 years ago. He immediately recognised Bowie and reported him to police,

Bowie, who now has prostate cancer, was told by Judge Lady Wolfie at the High Court in Livingston the he is a “callous and selfish man who totally fails to understand or acknowledge the continuing impact your actions had on the lives of your many victims”.

Speaking after the case Detective Chief Inspector Laura McLuckie said: “Bowie’s offending took place over a prolonged period (25 years) from 1972. He used his job as a bus driver to befriend boys aged from 12 - 16 years, grooming them and exploiting their vulnerability before betraying their trust and sexually abusing them.

“Those men live with the consequences of Bowie’s selfish and predatory actions to this day. I hope this investigation and subsequent sentence helps bring them closure and that it encourages others, male and female, who may have suffered abuse to come forward.”

Detective Inspector David Shaw of Calderdale CID said: “We echo Police Scotland’s statement following the sentencing of Gavin Bowie and hope this brings some closure to those brave victims who have come forward.

“Protecting vulnerable victims is at the heart of everything we do and we would always encourage victims of sexual offences to come forward no matter how historic the offence, and can promise that reports will be investigated and victims will be treated with the utmost sensitivity.

“Anyone who may be a victim, or knows someone who may be a victim of a sexual offence can contact Calderdale Safeguarding Unit via 101.”