Paedophile who groped a schoolboy on a bus tried to blame it on his gay TWIN
Vile Robert Mason dodges jail for attack on 14 -year-old after inventing non-existent sibling
A PAEDOPHILE who groped a schoolboy on a bus tried to blame the attack on his gay TWIN.
Robert Mason, 41, sat behind the 14-year-old before repeatedly poking his neck and then stroking him underneath his shirt.
But when he was confronted about the offence by the victim's brother, he claimed he hadn't done anything and said he had a twin brother who was gay.
A court heard Mason told the victim: "I am sick of him doing it. He is always doing it."
Mason, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs., admitted sexual assault and was handed a three-year community order with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 40 days.
He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until further notice and was placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.
Sentencing him on Wednesday at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Recorder Andrew Easteal said: "You distressed and frightened a 14-year-old boy.
"He, understandably, now is very anxious when out in public. He is anxious about using public transport and has lost a degree of his confidence.
"That is because of what you did to him on that bus. That is why it is so serious."
The court heard the victim was on a First Potteries bus travelling from Newcastle-under-Lyme to Meir, Stoke-on-Trent, when Mason sat behind him and assaulted him.
The next time the victim saw Mason he was with his brother who confronted him about the assault.
But Mr Bermingham said Mason replied: "I have not been doing anything. It is my twin brother. He is gay. I am sick of him doing it. He is always doing it."
The court also heard the incident left the teenager upset and worried about using public transport again.
Adam Till, defending, said Mason, who does not have a brother, was "ashamed" of his actions.
Speaking after the case, a First Potteries spokesman said: "The safety and well-being of our passengers and staff is paramount.
"If any criminal activity takes place on one of our buses, we will always do everything we can to assist the police in finding and prosecuting the person carrying out the offence."
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