A man arrested in July 2024 for masturbating to women on public transport has been jailed again just twelve days after his release.
James Gathercole, 40-year-old, from Leigham Court Road was given a prison sentence of two years and four months at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex last week. He pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure, and for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
On the 15th of July 2025, a woman on board a train from East Grinstead to London noticed Gathercole staring at her. After passengers in the carriage alighted at East Croydon Station, British Transport Police said he “fully exposed himself and began masturbating, still staring at the woman.”
The woman alerted the police, who arrested Gathercole promptly after finding him asleep in the train carriage. After running his details through the Police’s National Database, officers found that he was in breach of an existing prevention order.
The second count of exposure that he was sentenced for last week involved Gathercole masturbating on a train in South London on the 4th of June 2024.
The existing prevention order was in place for ten years, banning Gathercole from making any form of communication or contact with lone women on public transport and travelling without a valid for of payment.
In July 2024, he was jailed for two separate incidents on May 26th when he exposed himself and masturbated to women on trains in London. The prevention order was put in place when he was released.
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.”
She also added “Anyone who is victim to, or witness of, a sexual offence on the railway can report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040.”
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineLondon serial train masturbator is jailed just 12 days after being released
Short HeadlineLondon serial train masturbator is jailed again
Standfirst"There is absolutely no place for this sickening behaviour in our society", say British Transport Police
A man arrested in July 2024 for masturbating to women on public transport has been jailed again just twelve days after his release.
James Gathercole, 40-year-old, from Leigham Court Road was given a prison sentence of two years and four months at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex last week. He pleaded guilty to two counts of exposure, and for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
On the 15th of July 2025, a woman on board a train from East Grinstead to London noticed Gathercole staring at her. After passengers in the carriage alighted at East Croydon Station, British Transport Police said he “fully exposed himself and began masturbating, still staring at the woman.”
The woman alerted the police, who arrested Gathercole promptly after finding him asleep in the train carriage. After running his details through the Police’s National Database, officers found that he was in breach of an existing prevention order.
The second count of exposure that he was sentenced for last week involved Gathercole masturbating on a train in South London on the 4th of June 2024.
The existing prevention order was in place for ten years, banning Gathercole from making any form of communication or contact with lone women on public transport and travelling without a valid for of payment.
In July 2024, he was jailed for two separate incidents on May 26th when he exposed himself and masturbated to women on trains in London. The prevention order was put in place when he was released.
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.”
She also added “Anyone who is victim to, or witness of, a sexual offence on the railway can report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040.”
