Predator who sexually assaulted two women travelling on late night trains has been jailed

Sexual predator who assaulted two women travelling on late night trains jailedSebastian Vernon, 45, assaulted one woman on the Tube in London and another in Hertfordshire

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A sexual predator who targeted lone women on late night trains has been jailed for six months.

Sebastian Vernon, 45, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault following a trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

The court previously heard how Vernon boarded a Circle Line train at Ladbrook Grove on March 25, 2025, heading towards King’s Cross station.

Despite the carriage being empty, Vernon sat next to a young woman before sexually assaulting her while she was trapped in her seat.

Sebastian Vernon, 45, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assaultBTP

In a bid to escape Vernon, the woman pretended she was leaving the train but stayed on when she saw him disembark.

Just two weeks later, on April 8, Vernon boarded a train from Stevenage to Hitchin just before midnight.

Again he sat next to a young woman in a virtually empty carriage and proceeded to engage her in small talk.

The woman immediately became suspicious of his behaviour and left her seat and moved towards the carriage doors.

When she looked around she realised that Vernon had followed her, and as she waited to leave the service he sexually assaulted her.

The women reported what happened to British Transport Police and officers soon realised they were looking for the same person for both attacks.

Officers traced Vernon to a central London court where he was arrested as he emerged from a hearing for unrelated offences of assault, theft and possessing cannabis.

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Vernon was sentenced to six months in prison on July 1 and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

BTP Detective Constable Iryna Cuthbert said: “Vernon is an opportunistic predator who prowled train carriages late at night seeking out women who were travelling alone before attacking them.

“I commend the bravery of the two women for reporting what happened and supporting our subsequent investigation which has resulted in another sex offender behind bars.

“Tackling sexual offending on the railway is a top priority for BTP and we encourage anyone who is victim of, or witness to, this crime type to report it to us by texting 61016.

“We take every report seriously and offenders like Vernon will be made to face justice.”