Description
A man has pleaded guilty to the attempted rape of a woman on a Bakerloo Line train, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.
Vincent Saxon, 54 (17.06.72), and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday 17 September.
Saxon was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on Friday 30 October.
The incident happened at around 11.40pm on Saturday 11 July.
A man approached a lone woman on the train between Waterloo and Lambeth North station and exposed himself to her.
He then forcibly pulled the victim to the floor and attempted to rape her, however she fought back and subsequently fled the train at Lambeth North before alerting station staff, who then called BTP.
The man stayed on the train before getting off at Elephant and Castle Underground station. Officers searched the area but the man wasn’t found.
An urgent investigation was launched, including a media and social media appeal that resulted in several people coming forward to police with crucial information.
One anonymous caller rang to say that they had seen the appeal and that a man matching Saxon’s description was outside a shop on Fulham Palace Road.
Officers raced to the location and Saxon was arrested. He was taken into custody and later charged.
BTP Detective Sergeant Krishan Appannah said:
“First and foremost I would like to praise the victim for her bravery following what was clearly a terrifying ordeal. She was alone late at night when she was approached and attacked by Saxon without warning.
“She fought back ferociously against him before he fled. Her actions helped us recover vital forensic evidence that, along with our CCTV enquiries, would leave Saxon with no choice but to plead guilty.
“He is a dangerous and predatory offender and I’m pleased to see that we have secured justice for this brave victim, hopefully it will now be able to bring her some form of closure."