A PERVERT was trapped inside a bus by a quick-thinking driver after he committed a sex act in front of two frightened schoolgirls.

John Wheldon, of no fixed address, was locked inside the bus when the terrified girls told the driver what was happening.

Wheldon, an alcolohic who has a record of previous sexual offences, was arrested by police and charged with harassment, which he denied, but later changed his plea.

South Durham Magistrates' Court sentenced him to five months in custody, with a further two months, to run concurrently, for failing to surrender to custody on two occasions.

The court heard how Wheldon was on an Arriva bus from Newton Aycliffe to Darlington in March, when two 14-year-old girls got on and sat in front of him.

One of the girls noticed that Wheldon was looking at them and smelt strongly of alcohol.

Harri Jandoo, prosecuting, told magistrates how Wheldon, 37, started committing a sex act.

He said the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, noticed the defendant looking at them every two minutes and felt very scared.

Wheldon continued to act in this manner for about 15 minutes, before the girls, one of whom was crying, walked to the front of the bus to speak to the driver.

Mr Jandoo said that as the girls walked away, Wheldon wolf-whistled at them, causing them to become more frightened.

Having spoken to the girls, the driver immediately locked the doors of the bus, which was carrying about 15 passengers, and telephoned the police on his mobile phone.

Mr Jandoo said: "The defendant at first denied the incident in its entirety, saying the girls made it up. The defendant made a suggestion that he was putting his hand down the front of his trousers to get some cannabis."

Margaret McManners, in mitigation, said her client had a history of extreme alcohol abuse, which had worsened in recent months.

She said Wheldon accepted responsibility for the incident, but she said he did not accept all the allegations made by the youngsters.