A 40-year-old man from Cheltenham has been formally charged with sexual assault offences involving a teenage boy on a local bus. James Mark Minshull appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court facing charges including one count of sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 16, as well as breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Following the hearing, Minshull was remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear again in court on 14 September.
Police were initially alerted to the incident at approximately 6:50pm on Saturday, 15 August, after reports of an offence occurring on the number 41 bus. The vehicle was stationary on Tewkesbury Road at the time. Officers from Gloucestershire Police attended the scene promptly, leading to Minshull’s arrest.
The investigation was led by the force’s Child Exploitation Team, who have since charged Minshull. Gloucestershire Police are now seeking assistance from the public to aid their ongoing enquiries. They particularly appeal to anyone who was aboard the number 41 bus-which operates between Cheltenham and Northway, travelling via Coombe Hill and Tewkesbury-and may have witnessed the incident but has not yet come forward.
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Witnesses are encouraged to contact the police by submitting information online, referencing occurrence number 53260070619. This call for information highlights the importance of community cooperation in addressing such serious incidents and supporting the victims involved.