A pervert who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl on a London bus has been jailed for 10 months.

Dean Forte, 36, of Knights Hill, West Norwood, was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Forte had initially denied the allegation, but was convicted at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday, April 11. He was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, May 30.

His 13-year-old victim was sat towards the back of the top deck of the 468 bus in the West Norwood area at about 4.35pm on June 27, 2016, when Forte came and sat next to her and sexually assaulted her.

Forte was arrested and convicted following a media appeal by the Metropolitan Police.

An NSPCC spokesperson said: “This was a frightening attack on a vulnerable girl using public transport and we hope she is receiving the right help and support to recover.”

After Forte’s conviction last month, Detective Constable Daniel Kelly of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command said: "Offences of this nature are taken very seriously. We would encourage any other victims to come forward.”