Ex-school bus driver Thomas Charles Roberts pleads guilty to stalking teenage girl he used to drive to school

A 56-year-old former school bus driver has pleaded guilty to stalking a teenage girl who he used to drive to school five years earlier. Thomas Charles Roberts was arrested on January 18 after stalking the 16-year-old for more than six months, telling police he “loved her” and felt a “spiritual connection” with the girl. He first approached the girl on Christmas Day, saying he had been trying to find her for months and wanted to take her out to lunch. She reported the conversation made her feel uneasy and told police Roberts said to her “let me get a closer look at you” before looking her up and down. Yesterday in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court, Roberts pleaded guilty after police downgraded his charge from aggravated stalking to pursued another to intimidate. The court was previously told he had attempted to contact the girl by driving to the house he thought she lived at, searching for her on social media and even inquiring about prices for advertising in The Geraldton Guardian. His lawyer, Eva Svanburg, said Roberts had been placed on a community treatment order under the Mental Health Act after attending a mental health clinic. She said he had clear treatment needs and a community based order with supervision would be an appropriate sentence. The matter was adjourned so a pre-sentence report can be written. He will reappear in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on May 10 for sentencing.