Bus Sex Pest Caged

A bus sex-pest, who pleasured himself in front of a 13 year-old girl, has been locked-up for a year.

David Murphy-Hinds, 26, of Denmark Road, Hornsey was sentenced for outraging public decency on a route 121 bus in Enfield and breaching a suspended sentence.

Wood Green Crown Court heard the victim boarded the bus at Palmers Green Station on March 14, which was travelling towards Southgate Station, where Murphy-Hinds boarded and sat near her.

As she got up to get off the bus, she saw him masturbating. 



Officers from the Sexual Offences Team, part of the Transport for London-funded Safer Transport Command (STC), investigated and obtained CCTV images from the bus, which led to Murphy-Hinds being identified. 



Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor of the STC said: "We are committed to tackling sexual offences on London's buses and this sentence demonstrates our commitment to bringing those responsible to justice. 



"If someone has made you feel uncomfortable on your bus journey - however minor it may seem to you - reporting it to police can help us target the perpetrator and prevent it happening to another passenger."


Siwan Hayward, Transport for London's Deputy Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: "We are absolutely determined to eliminate sexual offences from our transport network, so I am pleased this sex offender has been jailed for what was a disgusting and offensive crime.

“With the help of our policing partners we will always push for the toughest penalties possible.



"We care about our passengers and every journey they make, and work hard with the police to ensure our transport network remains a safe, low-crime environment.

“It is never ok to feel threatened or distressed by another person's behaviour. If someone has made you feel uncomfortable, for example touched you in an inappropriate manner or exposed themselves, please report it the police. You will always be taken seriously."



The action was part of Project Guardian - a multi-agency initiative involving British Transport Police, the STC, City of London Police and Transport for London.



The partners have been working together to improve the levels of reporting among victims of sexual offences and to create an environment on the capital's transport network which does not tolerate intimidation and sexual harassment.