australian news : Former church bus driver accused of molesting youth group members

A former church bus driver, 69-year old man was arrested this morning at his Bilpin home near Windsor, northwest of Sydney, after four of his alleged victims went to police.The two men and two women told police the man sexually assaulted and molested them over three decades from the 1970s while he was a bus driver with the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Chatswood and Lane Cove, in Sydney's north. North Shore local area crime manager Detective Inspector Peter Yeomans said the alleged assaults occurred between 1978 and 1992 and there was nothing to suggest the church was aware of the man's alleged activities. The man allegedly took children from the youth group on frequent bus trips to beaches, public swimming pools and cinemas. Some of the alleged abuse occurred at the man's then Lane Cove home and at the church's Chatswood location. Det Insp Yeomans said Strike Force Dyer detectives charged the man with 54 historical offences, including charges of sexual assault, acts of indecency and indecent assault. He appealed for any other alleged victims to come forward. The man was released on conditional bail and will appear at Windsor Local Court on August 18.