Sex offender who stripped naked on train jailed – Kent

A repeat sex offender who stripped completely naked on a train in Kent has been jailed following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation. 

Jose Tavares, 50 (02/07/1976), and of no fixed address, was jailed for one year and two weeks at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on 28 October. 

He pleaded guilty to Exposure, Assaulting an Emergency Worker, and breaching requirements given to him for a previous sexual offence. Tavares was also given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. 

The court heard that BTP officers were called to Ashford International railway station on the evening of 26 October to reports of a naked man on a train. The call was made by a member of rail staff who saw Tavares naked in the aisle of one of the train’s coaches fully exposed and sexually gratifying himself. 

BTP officers quickly attended, located Tavares and arrested him near the station. He was taken to hospital for a medical assessment, and as officers were preparing to take him back to police custody, he spat in the face of one of the officers. 

In court on 28 October, Tavares was jailed for 4 months and 2 weeks for breaching a suspended sentence after being convicted of Exposure in March this year following a previous incident. He received an additional nine month sentence for failing to meet the notification requirements after being placed on the sex offenders’ register.  

Tavares was also jailed for just under nine months for Exposure relating to this incident, plus three months for Assaulting an Emergency Worker, which the judge ordered both to be served concurrently. 

BTP Detective Constable Andrew Devereese said: “I’d like to praise the member of rail staff who dealt with what was a challenging situation very professionally. His body worn camera, which he switched on when he discovered Tavares, provided crucial evidence of Tavares’ disturbing actions, and it also spared other passengers from seeing Tavares exposed as well. He also reported what he had seen immediately, allowing us to attend quickly to arrest the suspect. 

“Tavares tried to feign ignorance about his involvement in the incident but significantly let slip to arresting officers that he was in the carriage with the rail worker. 

 “Tavares’ behaviour was vile and it will never be tolerated on our railways. Anyone who experiences or witnesses this offending on the railway is urged to report it to us by texting 61016, or calling 999 in an emergency.”