Ilford pervert jailed over ‘predatory’ Tube sex assaults
Khurram Shahzad, 30, was jailed for 21 months (Picture: British Transport Police) - Credit: Archant
A sexual predator from Ilford has been jailed for two separate assualts on a terrified Brentwood teen.
Khurram Shahzad, 30, of York Road, targeted his 17-year-old victim twice while they were travelling on busy Central line Tube trains in August and September last year.
In both incidents, the victim, from Essex, was unable to escape his advances for several minutes and too scared to alert other oblivious passengers.
Shahzad was jailed at Blackfriars Crown Court on August 13, 2014, for 21 months and placed on the sex offender register for 10 years. He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of sexual assault and one of harassment.
British Transport Police officer Det Sgt Anna Fisk said: “Shahzad first assaulted the victim on-board a crowded morning Tube train, approaching her from behind and assaulting her while other passengers stood close-by, oblivious to what was happening.
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“The victim was so scared she was unable to react, she tried to move away from Shahzad but he followed her around the crowded carriage. She got off the train at Oxford Circus and never reported the incident.
“Four days later, on Tuesday, September 3, the same victim was travelling on a westbound Central line train at a similar time when she was again assaulted by Shahzad in a busy carriage.
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“The attack last several minutes and again, the victim was unable to escape due to other passengers stood close-by.”
For the next three days, the victim spotted Shahzad on her train before she got on, and was able to take action to avoid him. On September 11, she reported the incidents to the police.
Det Sgt Fisk added: “These attacks were not opportunistic but predatory, with Shahzad singling-out his victim and targeting her over a number of days.
“Understandably this was a very frightening experience for the victim.
“I would like to personally thank her for coming forward and reporting the incidents to the police and for her co-operation throughout our investigation.”
BTP’s investigation formed part of Project Guardian, a long-term project involving Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police which aims to reduce sexual assault and unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport in London.
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