Hemel Hempstead school bus driver jailed after paedophile sting
A former school bus driver from Hemel Hempstead was found guilty of committing sexual offences involving children.
Raymond Tointon, aged 58 of Long Chaulden, was caught making sexual communications with what he thought was a 13-year-old in a sting run by a vigilance group.
A jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a girl over 13 in 2013, following a trial held at St Albans Crown Court in March.
Tointon admitted to three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, and three counts of distributing such photographs, and one count of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.
Hertfordshire Constabulary revealed that his offending was unrelated from his employment in a role involving children and he was investigated for incidents which took place between April 2024 and May 2025.
A spokesperson for the police force said: “When detectives analysed Tointon’s devices, they found 194 Category A images, depicting the most serious abuse that can be committed by adults against children. He also had 99 Category B images and 97 Category C images.”
St Albans Crown Court heard that Tointon sexually communicated with what he thought was a 13-year-old child, but was a decoy account from an online activist group. Tointon sent images of himself to the account and messages of a sexually explicit nature.
It was revealed in court that Tointon was also using Snapchat, Facebook Messenger and Telegram to interact with numerous other accounts.
Yesterday at the same court, Tointon was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison with a further two years on extended licence.
The court heard that he was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order relating to his online activities and proximity to children upon release.
Detective Constable Rowan Montgomery, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Child Online Safeguarding Team, said: “Firstly, I would like to praise the victim for her bravery in coming forward. This case shows how it doesn’t matter when an offence was committed, we will investigate and get justice.
“Tointon took no accountability for this particular offence, putting the victim, who is now an adult, through the ordeal of a trial. He will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars.
“I would also like to issue a reminder that the victim is entitled to lifelong anonymity by law, and nothing should be shared that may identify her.
“The possession of indecent images of children is also not a victimless crime - each image represents the abuse of a child and has a real-world impact.
“Anyone wishing to report a sexual offence will always be treated sensitively and with respect by us. We recognise how difficult it must be but please be assured we have specially trained officers who can help you every step of the way.”