Serial sex offender back behind bars – Bedfordshire

A prolific sex offender has returned to jail after touching himself inappropriately while staring at a child on a train, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.   

Tajinder Sabherwal, 44, and of High Street, Bedford, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on 7 April where he was sentenced to two years and two months in prison having pleaded guilty to Outraging Public Decency. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The court heard how, on 22 March last year, a mother and her 11-year-old daughter were on a train from London St Pancras to Peterborough when Sabherwal boarded the service and sat adjacent to them so that the child was in his line of sight.

The mother turned around and noticed that Sabherwal was touching himself over his shorts while staring at her daughter.

She turned around again and made eye contact with Sabherwal who, on realising he had been caught in the act, left his seat and walked down the train.

The mother texted 61016, BTP’s text-to-report service, and officers boarded the service at Biggleswade but Sabherwal had already left the train.

BTP detectives identified Sabherwal as the offender and he handed himself in at Luton police station before offering no comment to all questions put to him in police interview.

The 44-year-old has a long history of committing sex offences on the railway.

In 2021 he was jailed for 18 months for exposing himself to women and touching himself inappropriately on multiple occasions at stations and on trains across London and Surrey.

BTP Detective Constable Agata Barker said: “This was an extremely disturbing incident for the victim and her mother. Sabherwal stooped to a new low, committing this vile offence while staring at a young child.

“He is evidently a repeat offender and poses a serious danger to women and girls, so I am pleased to see him return to jail where he can’t target the public with his repulsive behaviour.

“I would urge anyone who witnesses or experiences sexual offending on the railway to report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999.”