A violent West London man who launched a sickening sex attack on a train passenger has been jailed. Zakaria Mohammed violated then trapped the 21-year-old victim on a rush hour service towards Reading on March 24.
The Attack
The drunk 32-year-old predator sat directly opposite the young man in an otherwise empty carriage shortly before 8.30am. The pair made small talk until Mohammed, who was carrying a half-empty bottle of wine, sexually assaulted the victim. He then moved to the adjacent seat, cornering the victim and refusing to move as the train reached Reading station. Mohammed repeatedly hit the man over the head with his bottle as he crawled under the table to escape.
Arrest and Conviction
The victim, now bleeding heavily, reported what happened, leading to British Transport Police (BTP) officers arresting Mohammed at the ticket barriers. He was found to be in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) forbidding him from travelling on public transport without paying for a ticket. Mohammed, of The Coppice, West Drayton, pleaded guilty to Actual Bodily Harm, Sexual Assault, False Imprisonment and breaching the conditions of a previous Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
Sentence
A judge sentenced him to one year and eight months in prison at Reading Crown Court on May 19. He was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years, made the subject of a 10-year SHPO and told to pay a victim surcharge of £187.
Police Comment
BTP Detective Constable Lauren Pace said: "This was a truly sickening assault on a young man who was understandably terrified. Mohammed is a dangerous individual who saw nothing wrong with forcing himself upon the victim. Quite rightly he has been jailed as a result of our investigation and issued with a SHPO which will hopefully prevent him from attacking anyone else."
Reporting
Anyone who experiences or witnesses sexual offending on the railway should report it to BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.
