Sebastian Vernon, a 45-year-old sex offender from West London, has been sentenced to six months in prison after prowling train carriages late at night and sexually assaulting lone women. Vernon targeted two female passengers on London Underground and National Rail services between March and April 2025.
Attacks on Circle Line and National Rail
On March 25, around 11pm, Vernon attacked a young woman on an empty Circle line train heading towards King's Cross station. He trapped the victim in her seat by purposely sitting next to her. In a bid to escape, the woman pretended to leave the train but stayed on when she saw him disembark.
Just weeks later, on April 8, Vernon struck again on a train from Stevenage to Hitchin shortly before midnight. He boarded the service and singled out a woman sitting in a quiet carriage. After attempting to make small talk, the female passenger left her seat and moved towards the train doors. Vernon followed her and proceeded to sexually assault her as she waited to leave.
Investigation and arrest
British Transport Police (BTP) investigators connected the two incidents to the same man based on victim reports. Officers arrested Vernon as he emerged from a hearing for unrelated offences of assault, theft and possessing cannabis at a Central London court. Vernon, of Finborough Road, West Brompton, was found guilty of two counts of Sexual Assault following a trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.
Sentence and registration
On July 1, Vernon was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years. BTP Detective Constable Iryna Cuthbert said: “I commend the bravery of the two women for reporting what happened and supporting our subsequent investigation which has resulted in another sex offender behind bars. Tackling sexual offending on the railway is a top priority for BTP and we encourage anyone who is victim of, or witness to, this crime type to report it to us by texting 61016. We take every report seriously and offenders like Vernon will be made to face justice.”
