A Dundee bus driver, who quit after an investigation was launched into an allegation that he kissed and cuddled a schoolgirl on the number 17 service, has dismissed the claims.
Father-of-three Chris Forbes insisted “nothing happened” with the teenager and spoke of the impact of the allegation on his young family.
The 32-year-old said he stopped the bus and turned off the lights at the terminus near Summerfield Avenue in Whitfield.
“I got up out of the cab to check for lost property on the bus,” he said. “I turned around and there was teenage girl sitting on one of the front seats. I wasn’t aware of her being there. I asked her what she was doing sitting there and I didn’t really get a response.”
Mr Forbes claims he then continued to check the bus then returned to the cab before the young passenger left the vehicle.
He said: “Nothing happened at all. I had no idea where the allegations have come from at all. There was a complaint made to National Express of that nature.”
The bus company launched an investigation and suspended the driver but he resigned on Wednesday.
“That was my own decision,” he said. “I didn’t feel like it was safe for me to work there any longer. If this did break out, it was safer for me and for my family to no longer work there.
“I have had to leave my job and I’m scared to leave my house. I am worried for the safety of my three kids and partner. I keep shaking and am constantly worried about what’s going to happen next.”
He added: “It is a complete pack of lies. It is a very difficult situation to deal with.”
It is understood he was already estranged from the mother of his children prior to the alleged incident.
A source close to Forbes’ partner said: “They were trying to work things out before this happened. He’s not staying with the family just now anyway, to protect the kids.
“I know they say they’ve got it on CCTV but the family think it’s a lot of rubbish. Innocent until proven guilty, that’s their position.”