Jail for sex offender who assaulted woman on train – County Durham

A man who sexually assaulted a woman on board a train has been jailed following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Stephen Denison, 53, and of Baxter Avenue, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to Sexual Assault and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at North Shields Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 14 May.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.

The court heard how, on 2 February this year, a visibly intoxicated Denison boarded a train at Newcastle station and sat opposite a 56-year-old woman. He immediately attempted to engage her in conversation.

His remarks became increasingly lewd and she was subject to a barrage of inappropriate questions.

When Denison asked the woman to move her luggage so he could sit next to her, she refused and made it clear she would not be engaging with him. However, he persisted and went on to sexually assault her before leaving the service at Durham station.

An off-duty Metropolitan Police Service officer sitting nearby spotted the distressed victim and immediately approached to comfort her. 

She told the victim she had reported what happened to BTP and detectives launched an investigation to track Denison down.

He was arrested two days later at his home address and questioned in custody before being released on conditional bail while detectives gathered evidence to charge him.   

After being released Denison was arrested again at Newcastle station for breaching his bail conditions which stipulated that he must not enter the railway.

Danison’s sexual assault charge was authorised on Monday 2 March.

BTP Detective Constable Adil Ahmed said: “Denison’s crude comments and subsequent assault have had a lasting impact on the victim.

“Being drunk is absolutely no excuse for sexual assault – it is hoped that now behind bars, Denison takes the opportunity to consider the effects of his lecherous behaviour.

“If you've been the victim of a sexual assault or witness one taking place, please report it to us by texting 61016 so that we can take action and secure justice as we did in this case. We take every report seriously, and will stop at nothing to put sexual offenders behind bars.”