A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola, has been jailed in the United Kingdom after exposing himself and masturbating in front of a woman on a train travelling towards Manchester.
Odutola, 36, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison by Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and breaching a suspended sentence order.
The disturbing incident happened at about 7pm on Friday, September 11, aboard a train travelling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly railway station.
According to the British Transport Police, Odutola approached the woman, looked her up and down and became aggressive after she refused to engage with him.
He subsequently exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating as he stared at the woman and told her to “come over”.
The woman, who was travelling alone, became distressed before another passenger intervened and escorted her away from the carriage.
Police said CCTV footage captured Odutola continuing the act while other passengers moved through the carriage.
He was arrested by British Transport Police officers after the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly and was prosecuted and jailed within 72 hours of the incident.
Detective Constable Leonidas Christoforou of British Transport Police described Odutola’s conduct as “terrifying” for the victim, whom he said had been singled out while travelling alone.
“He’s shown little remorse for his actions and denied the allegations against him during his police interview,” Christoforou said.
However, the detective said CCTV footage and witness accounts provided evidence against Odutola, who eventually pleaded guilty in court.
Christoforou further disclosed that the incident was not Odutola’s first, noting that he was already a registered sex offender.
He added that British Transport Police would continue to take action against individuals involved in such behaviour on the railway.
The force also urged passengers who experience or witness similar incidents to report them by texting 61016.
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