Train masturbator woken up by police after exposing himself to lone women for third time

A man has been jailed once again for masturbating in front of women on trains just 12 days after his prison release.

James Gathercole, 40, ‘fully exposed himself and began masturbating’ on a train from London to East Grinstead on July 15.

While doing so, he continuously stared at a woman until she got off the train at Upper Warlingham.

Officers boarded the train at East Grinstead, found Gathercole asleep on board and arrested him.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure and being in breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and his prison release licence last week.

Gathercole was in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and prison release licence conditions.

In July 2024 he was jailed and handed the SHPO for exposing himself to women on trains and masturbating in two separate incidents on May 26.

The SHPO banned him from making any form of contact with lone women, and using public transport without a payment method.

Gathercole also breached the conditions of his prison release licence six days earlier by not being inside his home after 7pm.

The second count of exposure for which he was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on February 2 related to another incident when he exposed himself and masturbated on a train in south London on June 4 2024.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Jean-Pierre Choolhun said: ‘It is entirely right that, following our investigation, James Gathercole is now back in custody.

‘There is absolutely no place for this sickening behaviour in our society.

‘We take all reports of sexual offending extremely seriously, and this case demonstrates that commitment.

‘Our officers acted immediately, intercepting the train and arresting Gathercole shortly after the report was made.’

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