A woman who was subjected to years of stalking by her driving instructor is calling for better protection for learner drivers. Ashley Watson, 61, from Abbeymead, Gloucester, has been sentenced to a suspended prison term for stalking his victim, who she says was left devastated by his obsessive behavior.

While Watson was found guilty of stalking, his victim’s experiences highlight a wider problem – the lack of robust safeguards for learner drivers in this vulnerable position.

A Dangerous Power Dynamic

The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, started driving lessons when she was 17 and living in foster care. She describes herself as “vulnerable” at the time and says Watson befriended her, offering support and a safe place to stay. However, her situation escalated when he became obsessed with her.

She says: “If I said I wanted to be left alone he’d send me pictures saying he’d end his life.”

Watson went through her bin, watched her from afar, and made unwanted contact even after she reported him to the police. These incidents left her feeling terrified and constantly looking over her shoulder. “He almost took my life away without actually killing me,” she bravely shares.

Lack of Protection for Learner Drivers

The victim’s experience underscores the need for greater awareness and action to protect vulnerable learner drivers.

While Watson was convicted, the victim believes the law needs to recognize driving instructors as being in a position of trust. She argues that because driving instructors have access to personal details and “your physical space” this creates a power imbalance that can be easily exploited.

She wants to see more mandatory regulations for driving instructors and stricter measures to ensure their conduct is properly monitored and investigated.

The Campaign for Change

The victim is not alone in her concerns. Two other women, Phoebe Horrocks and Morgane Chapman, have also spoken out about being sexually assaulted by a different driving instructor. Together, they’ve launched a campaign to improve safeguarding for pupils and introduce a law recognizing driving instructors as being in a position of trust.

Horrocks explains: “We believe that driving instructors do have a big influence over people often due to the informal nature of the relationship. It’s normal for them to have your number to contact you, your details, your home address and so all of those factors can create such a vulnerability that enables the instructor to be in a position of trust, someone that you trust with not only your personal details, but also your physical space.”

Their campaign highlights the urgent need for change to ensure learner drivers feel safe and protected while learning something crucial for independence.

DVSA Response

The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) responded to a Freedom of Information request by stating that “the safety of learner drivers is our priority […] and we treat complaints extremely seriously.” They added that they fully investigate complaints involving driving instructors and involve the police if necessary, encouraging pupils to report incidents of inappropriate conduct.

Your voice matters

This story highlights the importance of learner driver safety. If you have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behavior from a driving instructor, please report it to the DVSA.together, we can work towards a safer driving environment for everyone.