Police have revealed that a serial flasher masturbated on a train for 15 minutes while staring at a woman.
Last week we reported that Bobby Garande was in court again after he was caught masturbating on a Thameslink train on October 14, 2021.
British Transport Police have now released more details of that offence, saying that the 29-year-old boarded a train at Blackfriars at around 7.30pm then walked through several carriages to sit across from a woman.
Garande had been staring at the woman on the platform before getting on the train, but once seated he began masturbating and touching his nipples while staring at her.
This lasted for around 15 minutes until the woman realised what was happening and moved carriages while alerting another female passenger about his actions.
He then left the train at Elephant and Castle before being identified by officers following CCTV enquiries.
The sex offender from Thornton Heath appeared in court on April 6 but he was already serving a 27 month sentence at HMP Thameside for masturbating in front of a woman on a train line on October 12, 2021.
On that occasion he peered at the woman through a gap in the seats while fondling his crotch.
The woman took a photo of him and when Garande got off at Bromley South she followed him until police arrived and he was arrested.
Garande had also previously exposed himself to a woman on the number 50 bus in Croydon while two children were sitting directly opposite him.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty that on October 14, 2021, he outraged public decency.
He was given a prison sentence of 26 weeks, which will be added to the 27 month sentence he was already serving.
Garande has around 20 criminal convictions, ten of which are for sexual offences.
Investigating officer James Mayled said: “Garande is a disturbing individual who made a targeted and prolonged attempt to masturbate in front of the victim for his own sexual gratification as she travelled home on her own.
“It should go without saying that women and girls have the absolute right to use the railway safely and in peace, without offenders like Garande subjecting them to such repugnant behaviour.
“Thankfully the railway network is generously covered with over 150,000 CCTV cameras – meaning the incident was captured clearly and in its entirety, and we were able to swiftly identify Garande and apprehend him.
“The custodial sentence he’s been handed shows just how seriously behaviour like this is taken, so I would urge anyone who experiences anything which makes them feel uncomfortable while travelling to let us know by texting us discreetly on 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. We will always take you seriously.”
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