Man jailed after exposing himself to woman on station platform – East Midlands

A man who exposed himself to a lone woman at Kettering railway station has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Steven Ross, 26, and of St. Peters Street, Northampton, appeared at Leicestershire Magistrates’ Court on 6 April. He was found guilty of exposure and being in possession of a bladed article in a public place.

The judge sentenced him to 16 weeks in prison – six weeks for the exposure offence and 10 weeks for possession of a bladed article.

Ross was also ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for seven years.

On 30 March at 6.20pm, a 23-year-old woman was on-board a train service which terminated at Kettering station. As the woman waited on the platform for the next train, she noticed Ross seated on a bench on the platform.

A few minutes passed, and the woman turned around to see Ross, who had pulled his trousers and underwear down, touching himself inappropriately.

He continued the act while looking at the victim before she walked down the platform away from Ross and phoned her friend who advised her to call the police.

The woman then located two members of rail staff and told them what had happened. One of the staff members then escorted the woman onto a train for her safety.

Ross was then spotted by station staff boarding a train at Kettering station on Monday 5 April. They informed British Transport Police (BTP) and officers met the train in Leicester and arrested Ross in connection to the offence.

Ross was taken to custody where he was found to be in possession of a kitchen knife and further arrested for possession of a bladed article.

BTP Detective Constable, Philip Burn, said: “This was a disgraceful and shocking incident during which a lone female was subjected to behaviour that no one should witness in a public place.

“Due to the victims' actions of reporting the incident to rail staff and the police, it resulted in the male suspect being identified, arrested and sentenced all within eight days of the offence occurring, making the rail network a safer place for the travelling public.

“I would like to thank the members of rail staff who supported the victim immediately after the incident, and for their fast actions in calling the police when they recognised Ross boarding a train.

“I would like to encourage victims and witnesses of any type of sexual behaviour to report it by texting us discretely on 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency. No report is too small, and we will always take you seriously.”