Legal aid bid holds up driving instructor's sex assault sentencing

Kingswinford-based Gary Rolinson is due to be sentenced for sexually assaulting six of his teenage pupils – although he plans to appeal against his conviction.

Rolinson of Andover Crescent, Kingswinford, at the time had denied 13 charges of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

But the instructor, now of Mulberry Green, Dudley, was found guilty following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He had been due to be sentenced last month at Warwick Crown Court, where Judge Andrew Lockhart QC is now sitting.

On that occasion the case had to be adjourned because Rolinson's criticisms of his barrister and her conduct of his trial meant that she could no longer represent him.

But when he returned to be sentenced on Friday, the court heard Rolinson's solicitors also felt they were 'professionally embarrassed' and were unable to continue to represent him.

Judge Lockhart said that Rolinson, who has sent the court a copy of his grounds of appeal, wanted to instruct a different firm of solicitors – but no application had been made for his legal aid to be transferred to them.

"This matter needs to be sentenced," said the judge, who commented that it would be his duty 'to pass the appropriate sentence,' irrespective of Rolinson's intention to appeal.

Rolinson, who told the judge that if he was sentenced he would ask for bail pending his appeal, insisted that he did want to be legally represented when he is sentenced.

Judge Lockhart said: "It is a difficult situation, but he is facing a substantial custodial term.

"If I receive an application for the transfer of legal aid by 4.30 on Wednesday, I will consider it, and if legal aid is transferred, we will list it for sentence in May."

But he told Rolinson there was no guarantee it would be transferred – and if it was not, he would have to pay for his own legal representation or represent himself.

And Judge Lockhart stressed to him: "It will be sentenced on that occasion, and I make nothing other than an indication that you will go straight to custody."

During the trial the jury had heard that between 2012 and 2014 Rolinson, who ran the 500+ Driving School in Kingswinford, preyed on young men by sexually assaulting them during lessons.

He had first been arrested in 2012 after a teenager made a complaint about being touched inappropriately.

No action was taken at that time – but in 2014 there was a further complaint by another young man.

So the police wrote to more than 700 men and women who had been taught by Rolinson over the three-year-period.

As a result other youths, aged 17 and 18 at the time of their lessons, and who did not know each-other, came forward to make complaints.