Court Jails Nigerian Man for Assault, Bans Him from Sitting Near Lone Women After Train Attacks

A UK court has sentenced a Nigerian man to prison for sexually assaulting two women on commuter trains between Hampshire and London.

Esosa Eguakin was jailed for two years on Tuesday, 10 February, after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Guildford Crown Court. He was also made subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which bars him from sitting or standing next to or opposite lone women in public.

The offences occurred on separate morning services to London. On 21 August last year, Eguakin boarded a train from Fratton to London Waterloo shortly after 7:15am. The court heard that he deliberately sat behind a woman in her 30s and sexually assaulted her during the journey.

A second incident took place on 6 October on a service from Eastleigh to London Waterloo just after 6am. After assaulting another woman, Eguakin claimed he was attempting to retrieve a dropped phone when challenged. He refused to move, leading an off-duty police officer to escort him off the train at Woking.

The officer arrested him at the station and detained him until other officers arrived. An investigation by the British Transport Police led to charges in connection with both incidents.

Detective Constable David Stewart described the conduct as predatory and said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences. He also commended the victims for supporting the investigation and acknowledged the intervention of the off-duty officer.

British Transport Police urged members of the public to report sexual offences on trains or at stations by texting 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency.