A serial sex offender has been jailed after stripping completely naked and sexually gratifying himself in the aisle of a train at Ashford International railway station in Kent.
Jose Tavares, 50, of no fixed abode, was arrested by British Transport Police (BTP) officers after rail staff saw him naked in the aisle of one of the train's coaches, fully exposed and sexually gratifying himself, on 26 October.
Court hearing and sentencing
Folkestone Magistrates' Court heard that Tavares had also breached an order, having been convicted of exposure last March. He admitted exposure again, assaulting an emergency worker, and breaching the previous order.
On 28 October, Tavares was jailed for four months and two weeks for breaching a suspended sentence after being convicted of exposure in March. He received an additional nine-month sentence for failing to meet notification requirements after being placed on the sex offenders' register.
Additional sentences and orders
Tavares was also jailed for just under nine months for exposure relating to this incident, plus three months for assaulting an emergency worker, which the judge ordered both to be served concurrently.
He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Police response and appeal
BTP officers were called to the station on the evening of 26 October to reports of a naked man on a train. The call was made by a member of rail staff who saw Tavares naked in the aisle. Officers attended, located Tavares and arrested him near the station.
He was taken to hospital for a medical assessment, and as officers were preparing to take him back to police custody, he spat in the face of one of the officers.
BTP Detective Constable Andrew Devereese said: "Tavares tried to feign ignorance about his involvement in the incident but significantly let slip to arresting officers that he was in the carriage with the rail worker. Tavares' behaviour was vile and it will never be tolerated on our railways. Anyone who experiences or witnesses this offending on the railway is urged to report it to us by texting 61016, or calling 999 in an emergency."
Det Con Devereese added: "I'd like to praise the member of rail staff who dealt with what was a challenging situation very professionally. His body worn camera, which he switched on when he discovered Tavares, provided crucial evidence of Tavares' disturbing actions, and it also spared other passengers from seeing Tavares exposed as well. He also reported what he had seen immediately, allowing us to attend quickly to arrest the suspect."
