A Nigerian man, Esosa Eguakin, has been sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting two women on trains traveling from Hampshire to London, following an investigation by the British Transport Police.
Eguakin pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday, 10 February.
In addition to his prison term, he was issued a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting several activities, including sitting or standing next to or opposite lone women.
The court heard that on 21 August last year, Eguakin boarded a Fratton to London Waterloo service shortly after 7.15am and deliberately sat behind a woman in her 30s, sexually assaulting her.
On 6 October, shortly after 6am, he targeted another woman on a train from Eastleigh to London Waterloo.
When confronted, he claimed he was attempting to retrieve a phone he had dropped. He refused to move, prompting an off-duty police officer to escort him from the train at Woking.
The officer arrested Eguakin and detained him at the station until additional officers arrived to take him into custody. A subsequent BTP investigation into both incidents led to charges of two counts of sexual assault.
BTP Detective Constable David Stewart said: “Eguakin’s behaviour was predatory and deeply distressing for both victims. No one should feel unsafe or be subjected to such violations as they travel.
“I want to thank the women involved for their courage in supporting our investigation, as well as the off-duty officer whose swift actions prevented further harm. This sentence, along with the SHPO, sends a clear message that we will pursue offenders and ensure they are held to account.
“If you experience or witness a sexual offence on a train or at a station, please report it to us by texting 61016. In an emergency, always call 999. We take every report seriously and will stop at nothing to bring sexual offenders like Eguakin to justice,” he added.
