Man caught masturbating in a first-class train carriage

A train passenger has been jailed for masturbating in front of two women[1] while travelling on the Midlands Mainline. The man was seated on board an East Midlands Railway[2] service from London St Pancras, heading through Leicestershire to Nottingham, when he targeted the victims.

Dean Benjamin, of Stockingstone Road, Luton, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency at Northampton Crown Court on Thursday, March 16. The 41-year-old was sentenced to 20 months for the charge and being in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) on Thursday May 25.

He also received six months for a second exposure offence investigated by Bedfordshire Police.[3] The first victim noticed Benjamin leaning against the luggage rack staring at her, just after 5pm on Friday, March 3, before he placed his hands down his trousers and began to masturbate.

She texted British Transport Police (BTP) using its 61016 service and told a passing ticket inspector who moved her to the first-class carriage away from him. He then travelled down the train to its first-class carriage and again began masturbating while staring at a second woman as she worked on her laptop.

After being notified by the ticket inspector, an off-duty police officer on the service apprehended Benjamin until the train arrived at Kettering station where he was removed and immediately taken to police custody.

DC Mohit Behl, investigating officer in the case, said: “Benjamin is quite simply a disgusting individual who targeted two lone women for his own sexual gratification. I hope his prison sentence serves as a stark warning to sexual offenders – we will do everything in our power to put your behind bars, without exception.

“If you experience or witness repulsive behaviour such as this on the rail network, I urge you to report it to us either by texting 61016 as the victim did in this instance, or by calling 0800 40 50 40. Nothing is too small or too trivial to report, and we will always take you seriously.”

References

  1. ^ masturbating in front of two women (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  2. ^ East Midlands Railway (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  3. ^ Bedfordshire Police. (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
  4. ^ Pervert tried to avoid court after vile picture collection discovered (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)