A repeat sex offender who assaulted a woman as she slept on a train has been jailed for 21 months.
Reece Francis, 27, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Blackfriars’ Crown Court on August 16.
The court heard that the victim was sitting alone on a train from London Bridge at around midnight on 25 May, when she fell asleep by the window.
“When she woke up, Francis was sat next to her and she was being sexually assaulted by him,” British Transport Police said.
The woman quickly moved to another carriage before reporting the incident to police.
Francis then left the train at Belvedere, Bexley.
Officers from BTP’s Sexual Offences Unit recognised the 27-year-old in CCTV footage of the incident.
He was subsequently arrested at his home address
Francis, of Bexley, was subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order at the time of the assault, owing to previous convictions.
This banned him from taking public transport between 11pm and 6am, and sitting next to or opposite any woman travelling alone.
The attack on 25 May was a breach of both of these conditions, police said.
Almost two years earlier, on 27 October 2017, Francis sexually assaulted a woman as she slept on a train from Dartford.
Just over two weeks later on 11 November 2017, he subjected another woman to a sexual assault while she was sleeping on a train from Cannon Street.
“The victim woke to find him exposing himself and touching himself inappropriately,” according to BTP.
He was convicted of both offences in January 2018 and sentenced to 54 weeks in prison.
His Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in place and has been extended to five years.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Edwards said: “Francis is an extremely dangerous individual who clearly has a habit of preying on sleeping women on public transport.
“His offences are abhorrent and I am relieved to see him back behind bars as I’m sure his victim’s will be too.
“I hope this sends a strong and clear message that we take every report of sexual offences on the railway seriously, and it absolutely won’t be tolerated."
