A predator who sexually assaulted a string of women as they slept on London's night Tube services has been jailed.
The identity of Salman Yousaf, 46, was only finally uncovered after he was imprisoned for another crime.
Yousaf already in prison in 2024 when the Metropolitan Police tipped off British Transport Police (BTP) about his identity and method of offending. BTP then reviewed unsolved cases, linking him to a series of sexual assaults committed between 2017 and 2021.
He admitted eight counts of sexual assault and one of outraging public decency. Yousaf was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on May 20, where he was also told he would spend an additional four years on licence after release.
He has also been placed on the sexual offenders register for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
BTP said investigators had not identified him earlier due to a lack of on-train CCTV and his failure to swipe in or out at ticket barriers for several offences.
His first crime was around 5am on March 11 2017 when he masturbated in front of a woman on a Central Line service near Stratford.
Yousaf went on to sexually assault another eight women on Central and Jubilee line services, singling out those who were on their own and had fallen asleep on night Tubes.
BTP Detective Constable Iryna Cuthbert said: “Salman Yousaf is a calculated predator who deliberately exploited the night-time rail network to target lone women, using their isolation to commit a series of premeditated crimes.
“Even when confronted, he showed a complete lack of remorse – the same absence of remorse he demonstrated at his sentencing.
“Thanks to the information provided by our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police, we were able to link him to a catalogue of vile sexual offending and ultimately extend his stay behind bars beyond 2030.
“Yousaf’s crimes will have a lasting impact on the women he targeted.
“I want to acknowledge their bravery in coming forward and reporting what happened, and I hope his sentence brings them some measure of justice.”
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