A GWENT school bus driver who took a girl aged 13 into a private bedroom on a double-decker and kissed her was yesterday banned from working with children.

Francis Nurden, 60, of Estuary View, Caldicot, a former driver with Langley's of St Arvans, Chepstow, was disqualified from working with children for five years.

The married grandfather was sentenced at Newport crown court after pleading guilty to a sexual assault on the young girl last October.

The court heard Nurden (pictured) spent three weeks in prison over allegations he broke his bail conditions and had also been dismissed from his job.

Prosecutor Martyn Kelly said Nurden assaulted the girl during the school holidays after she travelled with him on an evening run through Chepstow.

He said when they arrived back at the depot, Nurden showed her a bedroom area on a different bus which was used for drivers on overnight journeys.

The court heard the bedroom on the double-decker bus was furnished with a television, curtains, flowers and a mattress on the floor.

Mr Kelly said Nurden kissed the girl twice, once on the lips, and lay down on the mattress with her.

Mary Parry-Evans, defending Nurden, said: "This has caused him a lot of stress and anxiety and his wife and family have stood by him."

She said the girl had a "crush on him".

Miss Parry-Evans said the girl had described the first kiss on her cheek as "charming".

His time in prison, Miss Parry-Evans, said "took a toll on his health - he has been punished for his inappropriate behaviour already.

"He draws his pension and there is no question of him ever working with children."

The court heard Nurden has no previous sex offences convictions and was assessed as a low risk of re-offending.

Judge David Morris sentenced Nurden to an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

Nurden was also placed on the sex offenders' register for five years.