Bus driver, 47, called 'paedo' for dating friend's 16-year-old daughter

A 47-year-old bus driver has said he has repeatedly been called a ''paedo'' after beginning a relationship with his friend's 16-year-old daughter.

Andy, who hails from North Wales, started dating Beth when she was just 16-years-old. Two years on, and Beth is now 19, and they have two children together.

Many people have been unaccepting of their 28-year-old age gap. Andy and Beth told the Sun that they have had foul abuse shouted at them, as well as insults scrawled on their home and vehicles. The vitriol went so far, in fact, that they couple were forced to leave Wales for a new life in Lancashire.

Credit: Channel 5

Andy elaborated on how he was treated like ''some sort of animal'' after he met Beth through her mother:

''To say it was really dark days, I can’t stress to you enough – that’s mild. They made me feel like I was some sort of animal because I’m going out with a younger girl. No, I’m going out with a younger girl because this girl has asked me to go out with her which is a privilege to me and an honour to me to find someone that thinks that of me.''

The couple were featured on an episode of Channel 5's documentary series, Age Gap Love, which saw them return to Wales for a family holiday.

Mother-of-two, Beth, was apparently so anxious about returning to her hometown that she struggled to get out of the car. The couple do, however, hope to return to Wales at some point in the future.

Credit: Channel 5

''Forty years I’ve lived in Wales, my mum’s been here, my grandma’s been here,'' Andy continued to the publication. ''Not to be where you were brought up where all your memories are and your family, it’s very tough, it doesn’t get any easier. It kills me inside all the time.''

''I don’t want to be treated any differently… we are Beth and Andy and that’s it, isn’t it?''

In any case, Beth was reportedly never concerned by the 28-year-old age gap between her and her husband, and she states that she was drawn to Andy because she knew that he would be the ''perfect man'' to begin a family with.

''I’ve always wanted to make a family… so I just thought Andy would be the perfect man to do so,'' she asserted to The Sun. ''I don’t see him as an old man or my dad or anything like that.''

The episode featuring Andy and Beth's story on Age Gap Love was broadcast on Channel 5 back in November of 2018, and is available to watch on My 5.

This article originally appeared on VT.co