A smiling assailant who sexually attacked four women on the London Underground and followed a fifth victim shouted at a judge as he received a 22-month jail term.
Craig Anderson, 38, committed the assaults at Bank, Liverpool Street, and Westminster underground stations, as well as Redhill station in Surrey last year.
His method involved targeting women traveling alone, engaging them in conversation to ask for their phone numbers, then touching them inappropriately before fleeing while laughing.
After one victim screamed at him to stop, Anderson stuck his tongue out at her, leaving her deeply affected. Anderson initially met the woman he later stalked on a train in June, where he initiated a conversation with her.
Despite her objections, she gave Anderson her phone number, leading to incessant messages from him until October last year, using eight different phone numbers.
In August, he admitted sending her an unsolicited explicit image, against her wishes. He proceeded to follow her during her commute to work, confiscating her phone and medication and waiting for her outside a restroom when she tried to evade him.
In July, they met at Epsom train station, where he followed her onto a train to Canary Wharf without her consent, taking her phone once they reached Victoria, and followed her to the restroom in what he described as a playful manner. She sought refuge in the bathroom to escape Anderson after he trailed her off the train.
Anderson also committed four sexual offenses across London between June and October last year. CCTV footage from Bank underground station on June 14 showed Anderson walking behind a woman, reaching to touch her as they ascended the stairs, with a visible smirk and sticking his tongue out.
Similar incidents occurred on August 2, August 28, and October 6. On one occasion, a victim can be seen jumping away from him, shouting at him not to touch her. On another, Anderson asked a woman on a train to Gatwick airport what she would do if he tried to kiss her.
When she threatened to report him, he attempted to kiss her. CCTV footage captured Anderson following a woman, extending his hand behind her.
During his police interview, Anderson displayed aggressive and intimidating behavior towards women, deliberately targeting vulnerable individuals on public transport for his satisfaction, disregarding their refusals and leaving them feeling unsettled.
Following a trial in January, Anderson was convicted of stalking and four sexual assaults. Despite his denial of the offenses and intention to appeal his convictions, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison. Judge Nigel Lickley KC remarked on Anderson’s alarming criminal history and the distress caused to his victims.
British Transport Police highlighted Anderson’s lack of remorse during questioning, commending the victims for their courage in aiding the investigation. They urged individuals to report any sexual offenses on trains or at stations for swift action.