A pervert bus driver who preyed on a teenager then sexually abused him has been locked up.

Frederick Irish, 58, befriended his victim, who was a bus enthusiast, on Facebook and used the youngster’s interest in public transport to coax him into meeting.

The boy, who is under 16, then began travelling on Irish’s bus.

The driver started buying the lad gifts, taking him for meals and trips to a museum.

But gradually Irish started to ask questions about the boy’s sexuality, which led to him sexually assaulting his victim twice between September and October 2014.

He also asked the boy to send sexual images of himself on his mobile phone.

Irish, of Brentwood Drive in Farnworth, Bolton, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court.

He was jailed for three years nine months on Monday, September 7.

Det Con Lynn Hughes, of GMP’s child exploitation unit, Project Phoenix, said: “Irish showed some classic predatory behaviour towards this young boy, targeting him because of his interest in buses knowing that he would be able to forge a relationship.

"He was very cautious to start with, only attempting to turn the relationship sexual once he had already established quite a strong friendship with the victim.

“He also exhibited classic grooming techniques, buying the boy gifts, food, taking him on trips and allowing him to ride along in the bus while he was driving his regular route.

"This poor young lad was left understandably traumatised by this incident, he only wanted a friend with whom to share his interest in buses and instead Irish exploited this to groom and sexually abuse him over a number of weeks.”

Please visit www.itsnotokay.co.uk for information for children, young people, parents, carers and professionals on how to spot the signs of child sex exploitation and what to do about it.