Man jailed over train sex assault

Sully had convictions for identical attacks stretching back 38 years

A convicted paedophile who sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl on a Thomas the Tank Engine theme day has been given an indeterminate sentence.

George Sully, 73, from Hampshire, put his hand up the girl's skirt at the Hampshire Watercress Line in August.

The victim, from Surrey, was one of hundreds of children at the event where Sully was a volunteer engine driver.

The earliest he can be considered for parole is nine months but the judge emphasised it could be much longer.

'Night terrors'

The girl was with her mother, father and younger sister on the day.

It emerged during his trial that Sully had convictions for almost identical attacks stretching back 38 years.

The retired businessman from Four Marks had denied one count of sexual assault and said he could not remember touching the girl, but he was found guilty by a jury.

The Recorder of Winchester Michael Brodrick passed an indeterminate sentence for public protection and ordered Sully to sign the sex offenders register and disqualified him from working with children for life.

If and when Sully is ever released from prison, he will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), which would prohibit him from undertaking work that would bring him into contact with children.

'Regret and concern'

Breaking the order would make him liable to a maximum five-year prison sentence.

The court heard the girl has suffered nightmares and "night terrors" since the attack and the formerly outgoing and happy girl is now sad, apprehensive and distrustful.

Sully never told the company running the Watercress Line, Mid-Hants Railway about his past and the company did not carry out a Criminal Records Bureau check on him.

Although not mandatory this decision was criticised by the police and the girl's parents.

The company issued a statement which expressed its "regret and concern" over the "unfortunate incident".

In a statement, the company said: "The Mid Hants Railway carries out Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on all employees and volunteers who may be employed in positions that require them to be alone with children under the age of 18 and has done so meticulously, against those criteria, since the regulations were introduced.

"Mr Sully was a volunteer taken on to assist in the maintenance and overhaul of our engines in the Engine Shed. His role and responsibilities did not meet our criteria for a CRB check."

The statement added that Sully was standing on one of the unused steam engines, was in full view of the public at all times and was not alone at any time with a visitor.

The company expressed its sympathy to the child and family and said engine footplates visits do not now take place.