Piccadilly Line Predator: Rapist Caged For Nine Years

A sexual predator, who ended a night of depraved deviancy by raping a sleeping 20 year-old young woman on a Piccadilly Line tube train has been locked-up for nine years.

Ryan Johnston, 37, struck at approximately 7.45am after boarding the Underground train at Heathrow Airport, three hours after chasing and stalking two terrified women, who caught him masturbating while staring through the window of a house.

He was convicted by an Inner London Crown Court jury of one count of rape; one count of attempted rape; two counts of sexual assault and one count of outraging public decency.

Johnston was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Johnston boarded the tube train at Heathrow's Terminal Five on Sunday, February 23, 2020 and walked confidently through the carriage, approaching a young woman, who was asleep.

He sexually assaulted her and then raped her while she was unconscious.

The horrific attack was witnessed by a tourist and his young son, who reported what they had seen to police later that morning.

The incident was not captured on CCTV and despite extensive enquiries, officers were unable to identify the victim or any other report made to police.

Two years later, following a British Transport Police (BTP) review of historic rape cases, Johnston was identified, and arrested at HMP Brixton in December, 2022, where he was serving time for burglary.

Further enquiries led to detectives identifying the victim in the same month, who hadn’t realised the extent of what had happened to her.

Johnston was also linked to another disturbing incident in the early hours of that same day when two men exited Bounds Green Underground Station, also on the Piccadilly Line at 4.45am.

They noticed Johnston standing outside a house with his trousers round his ankles, looking through the window and masturbating.

Feeling scared, the women ran away, and Johnston then began shouting and chased them down the street to their home.

Thankfully, they managed to safely get inside and hide under a stairwell while Johnston banged on their door and put his hand through the letterbox before eventually leaving.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Kathrine Spencer said: "The offences committed by Ryan Johnston show him to be a dangerous individual, who viewed women with contempt.

“He was simply concerned with his own sexual gratification at any cost. 

“I hope this sends out a strong message to survivors of these offences that we will do all we can to bring offenders to justice to make society a safer place." 

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Paul Attwell of BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Johnston’s brazen attack in front of witnesses highlights his lack of shame or remorse for his actions, something which continued throughout his trial. 

“I am thankful his violence and despicable actions have been recognised by the guilty verdicts and significant sentence.

“His depraved actions will have a life-long impact on the victim and those who witnessed this. I am thankful for their bravery throughout this investigation. I hope they can now find some comfort in the fact justice has been served.”