Google MapsA taxi driver regularly abused a young boy he drove to school.
John Walls preyed on his victim starting when he was just 11 years old.
The married 59-year-old cabbie worked for a firm in the Dumfries area who had a contract with the local council.
This involved Walls taking the boy to and from the child’s school and home.
The victim was abused for more than four years until his mother began having concerns about Walls.
It led to Walls eventually confessing to what he had done.
On Tuesday, Walls pled guilty to charges of sexual assault and rape as he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow.
The crimes spanned between March 2016 and September 2020.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
Prosecutor Kath Harper told how Walls targeted the child when they were alone in his taxi.
She added: “The boy has found it difficult to estimate the number of times this conduct occurred.”
When the victim moved school, Walls continued to keep in touch including on social media.
Walls would meet him in his taxi and stop at various places in Dumfries to again abuse him.
The boy’s mum eventually became worried when she noticed Walls sitting in his cab near her home.
She later spoke with police before her son told a teacher he had been preyed upon by a taxi driver.
Walls, also of Dumfries, was arrested in September last year and initially admitted to his wife he had molested the child.
He confessed to other relatives and stated the victim was “telling the truth” adding he “could not lie any more”.
Walls had been on bail, but on Tuesday judge Lord Clark remanded him in custody.
Sentencing was deferred for reports.
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