A volunteer first aider with Maidstone's Urban Blue Bus has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of sex assaults.

John Franklin has been convicted of two offences of sexual assault committed while he was working on the weekend town centre service - and two previous counts heard at an earlier trial which relate to his work as a St John Ambulance volunteer elsewhere.

He was acquitted of rape and indecent assault, which were not connected to his work on the bus.

A jury at Maidstone Crown Court decided he was innocent of two of the counts, including a rape claim dating back to 1996, but found him guilty on two charges of sexual assault on a majority verdict.

Staff on the bus became concerned about some of the 39-year-old’s activities, including an incident in which he told a woman to strip down to her knickers so he could check her heart rate.

On another occasion, the court heard Franklin, of Kent Avenue, Sittingbourne, pulled down the underwear of a woman to examine her intimately.

Anthony Prosser, prosecuting, told the jury: "These activities were sexually motivated, with Franklin using his first-aid work as a cover."

Franklin had previously been convicted of sexually assaulting a woman while operating a private ambulance as a St John Ambulance volunteer.

"Your actions were performed for your own sexual gratification in what I consider to be one of the greatest breaches of trust that can be thought of." - Judge Statman

Today, Judge Philip Statman, said Franklin had used his authority to take advantage of vulnerable women and passed a six-year sentence for two counts of assault by penetration.

He imposed a further two years for the sexual assaults committed on Urban Blue Bus.

Sentencing, he told Franklin: "Your actions were performed for your own sexual gratification in what I consider to be one of the greatest breaches of trust that can be thought of.

"The public are entitled to know when first aid is sought it is going to be dealt with in a safe environment by caring professionals.

"Your crimes undermine the extremely valuable contribution that both St John Ambulance and the Urban Blue Bus make to the continuing heath and safety of our community. You have besmirched the good name of these respectable organisations with your actions.

"From start to finish you have shown no remorse."

Franklin will now be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector Neil Kimber of Kent Police said: "I’m glad that together with the Crown Prosecution Service and commitment of the victims we were able to bring Franklin back to court to face a retrial on four serious allegations that were outstanding from his previous trial.

"His victims bravely came forward and reported these violations and it is important for them to see justice being served with the substantial sentence that has been passed.

"I would like to thank the victims for their bravery and commitment and hope that they will be able to rebuild their lives now that this sentence has imposed."