A man who sexually assaulted multiple women on public transport and stalked another victim has been jailed.
Craig Anderson, 38, targeted lone women at stations including Bank, Liverpool Street and Westminster, as well as Redhill in Surrey, over several months.
He approached victims under the pretence of conversation before touching them and fleeing, often laughing or smiling during the incidents.
In one case, he stuck his tongue out at a woman after she screamed at him to stop, leaving her distressed and fearful.
Anderson also stalked a woman he met on a train, repeatedly contacting her using multiple phone numbers between June and October last year. He admitted sending her an explicit image without consent and continued to follow her during her commute.
On one occasion, he took her phone and medication and waited outside a bathroom after she attempted to escape.
The court heard he carried out four sexual assaults between June and October, with CCTV footage capturing several of the incidents.
Prosecutors said Anderson deliberately targeted vulnerable women travelling alone and demonstrated aggressive and intimidating behaviour.
He was convicted of stalking and four counts of sexual assault following a trial in January.
At the Old Bailey, Judge Nigel Lickley KC said Anderson had “distorted beliefs” about women and posed a high risk of reoffending.
He also noted Anderson’s extensive criminal history, including dozens of previous offences and breaches of court orders.
Anderson was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
Investigators said the case relied heavily on the testimony of victims who came forward to support the prosecution.
British Transport Police urged anyone experiencing or witnessing sexual offences on public transport to report them.