Black Country driving instructor locked up for sexually assaulting pupils

Gary Rolinson, who ran the 500+ Driving School based in Kingswinford, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

The 60-year-old preyed on six teenage youths, interfering with them during driving lessons between 2012 and 2014.

Rolinson was found guilty of 13 offences of sexual assault and one of causing a person to engage in sexual activity after a 14-day trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in January.

The crimes involved six 17-year-old and 18-year-old men.

• MORE: 'Vulnerable and violated' - Teenage sexual assault victim speaks out

Rolinson launched the 500+ Driving School in 2008 after being made redundant from Rover.

He was arrested by Staffordshire Police in 2012 after a teenage youth complained about Rolinson's behaviour during a driving lesson but officers decided to take no further action after inquiries failed to find any corroborating evidence.

Two years later West Midlands Police received a complaint from another youth and, after discovering it was the second of its kind, wrote to the 750 men and women of all ages that Rolinson had taught to drive over the previous three years.

As a result more youths came forward who were prepared to go in the witness box to give evidence against him. They did not know each other and had been taught at different times.

The police inquiry revealed how Rolinson, formerly of Andover Road, Kingswinford, would manipulate his students by attempting to excuse and justify his behaviour as a bit of fun.

Rolinson said to one of the teenagers: "Don't come with me if you can't take a joke".

Another victim disclosed how Rolinson once warned him, after months of abuse, about 'some lad' who had broken his trust and said: "I'm glad I can trust you. You won't tell anyone."

DI Sarah Booth, from West Midlands Police's Public Protection Unit, said: "Gary Rolinson was trusted to deliver a professional service but he betrayed everyone by using his respected position as a driving instructor for his own sexual gratification.

"These lads should have been excited as they came of age and got behind the wheel of a car for the first time, but instead they were left confused, intimidated or scared by Rolinson's behaviour.

"It took a lot of courage for them to speak out and thanks to their bravery in coming forward and giving evidence at court a predatory sex offender has now been taken off the streets."

Rolinson was tried at Wolverhampton Crown Court and found guilty on January 29.

The driving instructor, now of Mulberry Green, Dudley, had been due to be sentenced in March but the case was adjourned because Rolinson's criticisms of his barrister and her conduct during his trial meant that she could no longer represent him.

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

But at Warwickshire Justice Centre in Leamington Spa today Rolinson was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.