Description
A man convicted of multiple sexual assaults on London's transport network and beyond exhibited a disturbing pattern of behavior that traumatized victims.
Craig Anderson, 38, targeted women at Bank, Liverpool Street, and Westminster Underground stations, plus Redhill in Surrey, from June to October last year. CCTV showed him pushing through barriers at Bank on June 14, grinning while seeking a lone victim. In one assault, he laughed as his victim screamed and cried.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard he groped a woman on a staircase and, on a Gatwick train, asked another what she'd do if he tried to kiss her—then attempted it despite her warning she'd report him.
Anderson also stalked a woman met on a train, contacting her from eight numbers. In August, he sent her an unsolicited explicit image, later calling it “playful.”
He was convicted of four sexual assault counts and stalking causing serious alarm or distress from June 26 to October 3. From the dock, he shouted: “I can do what I want about girls.”
Prosecutor Ellen Alexander said: “He was deliberately targeting vulnerable women alone on public transport for sexual pleasure. He did not take no for an answer. He walks away smiling and sticking his tongue out. He does not understand the seriousness of what he has done.”
British Transport Police called Anderson a serious danger to women, noting his smirking during questioning and lack of remorse.
The BTP investigating officer said:
“Anderson is a dangerous predator who preyed on women for his own sexual gratification. During his initial questioning he smirked his way through providing no comment responses, highlighting his lack of remorse for his actions. It is thanks to the brave victims who supported this investigation that we have seen him convicted for these heinous crimes. If you experience or witness a sexual offence on-board a train or at a station, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016. We take all reports seriously, and do everything possible to bring them to justice.”