A man who grabbed a woman's hair on a train and asked to kiss her has become the first person to be convicted under a new law against sexual harassment. David Stroud, 44, told officers while under caution that his behaviour was 'just banter', adding: 'We had banter together, do you know what I mean?' He has now been sentenced to a 12-month community order.
Incident on the Hastings to London train
The incident happened on a journey from Hastings to London on April 3 – just two days after the harassment law came into effect. Highbury Magistrates' Court heard Stroud was 'constantly leaning on to the woman', telling her 'you're magical'. He was arrested upon arrival at London Bridge station.
Prosecutor's statement
Jennifer McDowall, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Midlands, said: 'What he initially dismissed as 'banter' was in fact criminal and he now has a conviction as a result. This case sends a clear message that behaviour like this is not harmless and will not be tolerated.'
CPS national stalking lead comments
CPS national stalking lead Olivia Rose said: 'This landmark case under a new law tackling sex-based harassment signals an important step forward in protecting women and girls in public spaces. Anyone can be a victim of this type of behaviour – but we know women and girls are disproportionately affected. We will continue to play our part in stamping out violence against women and girls and to make sure everyone can feel safe going about their daily lives.'
Campaign against violence
This case comes as part of a broader effort to address violence against women. Metro launched 'This Is Not Right' campaign on November 25, 2024, aiming to shine a light on the scale of this national emergency. The campaign is supported by Women's Aid.
