Man Jailed For Sexually Assaulting Brentwood Teenager

27 August 2014, 13:29 | Updated: 27 August 2014, 13:32

A man's been jailed for 21 months for sexually assaulting a teenage girl from Brentwood on a London Underground train.

Khurram Shahzad of York Road, Ilford, was sentenced on Wednesday, 13 August to 21 months in jail and has been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Shahzad first assaulted the 17-year-old girl, from Brentwood, in August last year on a westbound Central Line train between Liverpool Street and Oxford Circus.

Detective Sergeant Anna Fisk, from British Transport Police's Project Guardian team, said: "Shahzad first assaulted the victim on-board a crowded morning Tube train, approaching her from behind and assaulting her while other passengers stood close by, oblivious to what was happening.

"The victim was so scared she was unable to react, she tried to move away from Shahzad but he followed her around the crowded carriage. She got off the train at Oxford Circus and never reported the incident.

"Three days later, on Tuesday, 3 September, the same victim was travelling on a westbound Central Line train at a similar time when she was again assaulted by Shahzad in a busy carriage. The attack last several minutes and again, the victim was unable to escape due to other passengers stood close by."

The victim then saw Shahzad every morning for the next three days on her commute to work, she managed to avoid him though.

After she reported him to the police, he was arrested on Wednesday, 11 September. Plain clothes BTP officers went with her on her morning commute and she identified him on the journey. 

DS Fisk added: "These attacks were not opportunistic but predatory, with Shahzad singling-out his victim and targeting her over a number of days. Understandably this was a very frightening experience for the victim. I would like to personally thank her for coming forward and reporting the incidents to the police and for her co-operation throughout our investigation.

"We will always fully investigate all reports of sexual offences and encourage victims to come forward."