A Thornton Heath Sex Offender, William Roberts, sexually abused a 16-year-old train rider after she declined to provide her phone number.
William Roberts, residing on London Road in Thornton Heath, was incarcerated at Reading Crown Court last week following his conviction for sexual assault.
The 28-year-old is now required to register as a sex offender for a duration of ten years due to his offences.
This follows an incident on the evening of December 9, 2020, when the 16-year-old victim was travelling on a train from Oxford to Princes Risborough.
William Roberts, who shared the train with the woman, approached her and persistently solicited her phone number.
After the girl declined to provide William Roberts with her phone number, stating her lack of interest and her age of 16, the London guy sexually attacked her.
He stood and traversed the carriage, only to return to her seat and extend his arms as if to obstruct her exit.
William Roberts thereafter endeavoured to sexually abuse the victim once again before the girl repelled him and fled.
The 28-year-old was apprehended at his residence on January 6, 2020, when he informed law enforcement that he was merely participating in amicable dialogue.
Detective Constable James Egley stated: It is evident from William Roberts’ continual behaviour that he poses a threat to women and girls, and I am gratified to see him removed from the network and incarcerated.
This incident was profoundly distressing for the victim, who has demonstrated remarkable courage by coming forward and recounting her experience.
Individuals should not experience feelings of threat when utilising the network, and we are diligently implementing stringent measures against sexual offenders.
I encourage all individuals who encounter or observe sexual harassment or a sexual offence on the railway to report it to the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. We shall consistently regard you with seriousness.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.