Church-going bus driver assaulted schoolgirl

A church-going bus driver who groomed and raped a schoolgirl is facing yers in jail.

Roger Murray, 43, left the 15-year-old feeling ‘alone’ and embarrassed after he took her virginity at an address in south London on 19 May 2021.

‘It is clear that the grooming started after the defendant offered to give her a lift to school,’ said David Markham, prosecuting.

‘Steps were taken by the defendant to stop the victim reporting the incident.

‘We counted 15 calls all unanswered from him to her. This speaks of his desperation to make contact with her.’

Murray, of Mitcham, denied but was convicted of rape after a trial at Inner London Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement the victim said: ‘I don’t even know how to explain and say how this incident has affected me.

‘I used to have a good relationship with my mum. Since the incident the relationship has deteriorated.’

The court heard that she had to leave home for six months away from her mother.

‘I felt so alone. I felt embarrassed.’

‘I want to forget it all’

‘I never had a boyfriend. I was a virgin. I never thought I would lose my virginity in the way that I did.’

‘I grew up a little bit too soon.’

The girl’s mother said: ‘The trial has caused her so much anxiety. I had to give evidence which gave me anxiety. She will have to live with it for the rest of her life.’

Alexandra Scott, defending, said: ‘This was a girl who was perfectly capable of notifying her parents and reporting it to the police in a short space of time.’

‘He obviously knew she was a schoolgirl. He knew she was underage.’

The court heard Murray attends church and works as a bus driver in south London.

Murray was remanded in custody to HMP Thameside ahead of sentence on 16 February.
ends