A 44-YEAR-OLD man who groped a trio of women on the London Underground has been jailed.

Colin Franklin, of no fixed address but known to live in and around Beckenham, made lewd comments to two train passengers at Manor House and Belsize Park Tube stations in September 2008.

On both occasions he groped the women's breasts before fleeing as the train doors opened at the platforms.

In a third attack, also in September 2008, Franklin repeatedly groped a woman from behind as she stepped off a train at Angel Tube station.

Detective Constable Lizzie Beeston, from the British Transport Police’s indecency unit, said: “These women were simply going about their business on the Tube when they were subjected to this disgusting behaviour.

“It was a very frightening experience for them, made even worse by the level of aggression he displayed.”

Franklin was handed a three year jail term at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday (February 11) after being found guilty of sexual assault.

The judge also handed him a Sexual Offences Prevention Order which bans Franklin from using the London Underground or Docklands Light Railway for five years after he is released.

Franklin has also been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Head of operational support at London Underground, Mike Maynard, said: “Franklin’s distasteful actions were offensive and we’re glad the CCTV on our network assisted the British Transport Police to track him down.”

Franklin was found not guilty of two other counts of sexual assault during his trial in September last year.