Dundee bus driver groomed and raped schoolgirl passenger

A bus driver groomed and raped a 13-year-old girl after meeting the child on his bus.

Arthur McGinnis, 47, targeted the victim and another teenager for sexual exploitation in Dundee.

A judge told McGinnis at the High Court in Edinburgh: “These are serious crimes and plainly a substantial custodial sentence is the only appropriate response in your case.”

Lady Ross said: “Your actions against two vulnerable young people have caused them real harm.”

“You are responsible for raping and committing other serious offences against two teenage girls. At the time you were aged between 44 and 46,” said the judge.

Lady Ross said that McGinnis was at the time a bus driver and appeared friendly but subjected victims to controlling, exploitative and damaging behaviour.

The judge said that the rape offences were especially serious, and the age of the girls and the age gap between them and McGinnis were aggravating features.

She ordered that the rapist should be under strict supervision in the community for a further three-year period, when he will be on licence and can be returned to custody if he breaches the conditions.

McGinnis, formerly Dundee, had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial but was convicted of eight offences, including rape, sexual assault, indecent communications and possession of indecent photos.

McGinnis began subjecting his first victim to abuse when she was aged 16 in January 2022. He demanded the girl take part in sexual activity with him, raped her and shot her with a BB gun.

He shouted and swore at her and behaved in a threatening and aggressive way towards the teenager.

He encouraged the 13-year-old girl to visit his home but when she did in October 2022, he raped her.

When police seized his mobile phone in October 2022, McGinnis erased data from it in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

Defence counsel Gillian Ross KC said that McGinnis recognised that following the jury’s decision he faced a lengthy period of time in jail.

She said he continued to deny the serious offending that he was convicted of committing.

The defence counsel said: “He is motivated to accept any help or courses offered to him while in custody.”

McGinnis was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Lady Ross made non-harassment orders banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the victims.