A school bus driver has been sacked after a four-year-old boy was found wandering about on his own in Inverness.
John Robertson should have been taken on the four-mile journey from Munlochy Primary School to his home in North Kessock by a D&E Coaches minibus.
But instead, the P1 pupil was found “scared and crying” on Stadium Road in Inverness, after the driver appeared not to notice he was still in the back of the bus when he dropped it off.
Yesterday, a spokesman for D&E Coaches said: “We are extremely disappointed at the circumstances in which a child was left on one of our minibuses going from Munlochy Primary School to North Kessock last Friday when it was parked in a yard in Inverness. A full internal investigation has been conducted and the driver concerned has been dismissed for gross misconduct.
”We wish to express our sincere apologies to the family of the child for the distress caused and we are extremely relieved that the child was safe and sound.”
John’s parents raised the alarm at about 4pm on Friday after he did not appear at 3.40pm.
He was eventually found by two women wandering on the road near Caledonian Stadium and taken to Burnett Police Station.
Last night, his father – also John – said it was lucky his son had been found safely.
He said: “It could have had a totally different outcome for our boy, we were lucky there were two nice members of the public. I am angry they never contacted me once they found out it was a fault at their end they had to wait to be pressured by the papers to get in touch.”
Mum Nikki said John is now struggling when he was on his own, and has to have someone with him when he goes to sleep.
Mrs Robertson added: “He is terrified to go on a bus now and says he is never going on a school bus again. He is traumatized by this situation and it is going to be a problem come school trips etc. as he isn’t going to want to go on the bus.”
A spokeswoman from Highland Council said: “We are extremely concerned about this incident and we are carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances with our contracted school transport provider.”
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm a four-year-old child was taken to Burnett Road Police Station by a member of the public on the afternoon of Friday, December 8. Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”