A young woman has spoken out about a terrifying sexual assault she endured on a busy train journey, revealing that fellow passengers initially seemed hesitant to get involved. The incident has propelled her to champion a growing campaign for the introduction of women-only carriages on London's transport network, as reported sexual offences reach a five-year high.
A Harrowing Commute Home
Amber Dowling-Doyle, a 24-year-old part-time model and pet sitter from Brentwood, Essex, was travelling home on the Elizabeth Line service from Liverpool Street towards Essex after an after-work drink. With her earphones in, she was approached by a man who attempted to engage her in conversation. When Amber tried to ignore him, the situation escalated rapidly.
The man aggressively grabbed her arm, positioning himself in front of her seat to effectively cage her in against the glass partition. He then placed his hand on her leg before proceeding to sexually assault her. Amber described feeling utterly isolated, stating, "Even though I was in public, I felt like I was the only person with him on that train."
Passenger Intervention and Police Response
The assault was eventually halted when other passengers intervened. A woman on the train first called out, telling the perpetrator to leave Amber alone. Shortly after, a male passenger physically intervened, tackling the assailant away from Amber. This action prompted the perpetrator to become "incredibly aggressive and violent," shouting threats, which in turn galvanised more passengers to get involved.
British Transport Police had already been alerted and met the train at Stratford Station, where they arrested the man. Amber expressed profound gratitude towards the strangers who stepped in, noting, "I was relieved that people were actually seeing this and somebody had said something. It was the relief that I'm actually going to be believed."
Legal Proceedings and Emotional Aftermath
The offender pleaded guilty to sexual assault at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on December 11, 2025. He received a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay Amber £900 in compensation.
Attending the court hearing proved to be a pivotal moment for Amber. "I saw him and he recognised me and they read out my impact statement in the court room," she recalled. "As soon as I heard his sentence, I slumped back in my chair... I feel like I've got closure now, and it's sort of let me come back to life a bit."
The psychological impact of the assault has been severe. Amber was referred for therapy and described being "terrified" to use public transport for months afterwards. "I got on a train the other day and I was terrified still and that's six months later, I'm still nervous," she confessed, detailing how she avoided using earphones for fear of missing potential threats.
Campaign for Women-Only Carriages
Amber is now backing a petition started by 21-year-old student Camille Brown, calling on Mayor Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to introduce at least one women-only carriage on all Tube lines. The petition has garnered over 14,000 signatures and is due to receive a government response.
This call for action comes as TfL figures reveal reported sexual offences on the London Underground reached 595 in 2024-25, the highest level in five years. Amber argues that given these statistics, women-only carriages represent "the only rational thing to keep women safe." She emphasised, "I was assaulted on a Friday night but that doesn't mean that another woman isn't being assaulted on her Tuesday morning commute."
Broader Implications and Safety Messages
A spokesperson for British Transport Police reiterated their commitment to tackling sexual offences on the rail network, stating: "No woman or girl should ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable when travelling by rail, and we take all reports of unacceptable and unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway network seriously." They encouraged passengers to save their discreet text number, 61016, to report concerns.
Amber is using her experience to encourage other victims to come forward. "Don't be scared," she urged. "I know it's intimidating - especially that gnawing feeling of 'Am I going to be believed?'... Sometimes you have to be a little bit uncomfortable to be free."
Her advocacy highlights ongoing concerns about women's safety on public transport and the complex dynamics of bystander intervention in assault situations, sparking renewed debate about protective measures in urban transit systems.
