Driving instructor to appeal conviction for sexually assaulting pupils

Gary Rolinson has lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal and his barrister Miss Samantha Forsyth, who had defended him during his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said she was no longer able to represent him, a crown court was told.

The case had been adjourned for a pre-sentence report on Rolinson following his conviction for 13 offences of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity.

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

He was first arrested in 2012 after a teenager made a complaint about Rolinson touching him inappropriately, the trial heard.

In 2014 there was a further complaint by another young man, so the police wrote to more than 700 people 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 came forward to make complaints.

Rolinson, aged 60 and now of Mulberry Green, Dudley, had been due to be sentenced at Warwick Crown Court, where Judge Andrew Lockhart QC, who heard the trial, is now sitting.

But Miss Forsyth said: "Today Mr Rolinson has shown me a bundle of documents he has submitted to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.

"He has made quite serious allegations of professional impropriety in my conduct of the case and that of my instructing solicitor.

"Bearing in mind what he has said about me in writing, I am in an invidious position. I do not feel able to mitigate for him today."

Adjourning the case until April 22, Judge Lockhart warned Rolinson: "Granting you bail, I indicate what I have already said to you, that the virtual certainty is that you will receive a substantial term of imprisonment."