Serial offender sentenced after touching himself inappropriately on train in front of woman – North Wales

A man has been sentenced after putting his hand down his trousers several times in front of a woman on a train travelling to Bangor, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Salvador Ahmed-Young, 38, and of Pontllyfni, Gwnyedd, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency after behaving inappropriately on a train, despite being subject to a post-sentence supervision at the time of the offence.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Magistrates’ Court on 8 March and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The SHPO, which is in place until March 2027, prohibits Ahmed-Young from entering the rail network except for the purposes of travelling. He is also prohibited from;

• Placing any item over his lap to deliberately conceal his hands or placing his hands inside his trousers whilst in a public place.
• Approaching, touching or making any attempts to communicate with any female unknown to him in any public place in the UK (including any public transport) except for where it is not reasonably avoidable.
• Sitting immediately next to or opposite any lone female unknown to him on any form of public transport in the UK and to move to seats and/or stand away, if a female sits next to him.

He is also required to comply with a drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme and pay a total of £413 in fines.

The court heard how at around 7pm on Monday 31 January, Ahmed-Young was travelling on a train to Bangor. He sat in a seat adjacent to a female passenger – the victim – and raised one of his legs on to the seat. 

He then put his coat over his groin area and turned his body around, so he was staring at the victim, before putting his hand down his trousers in a suggestive manner.

Feeling alarmed and uncomfortable, the victim moved to sit in another seat a few rows away. Ahmed-Young also got up and stood outside the toilet door, staring at the victim for a few minutes.

After he entered the toilet, the victim alerted the train guard, who advised her to report the incident to BTP, using its discreet text service. 

The victim provided a description of Ahmed-Young to the guard who was able to walk through the train to locate him, while the victim reported the incident to BTP.

The guard identified Ahmed-Young lying on his back across the disabled access seats with his hand down his trousers.

An officer met the train at Bangor railway station and arrested Ahmed-Young. On arrest, he made several comments, including that he had taken drugs and was intoxicated.

Police Constable Gethin Griffith said: “This, no doubt, was a traumatic incident for the victim and I am thankful that Ahmed-Young is now prohibited from approaching and preying on other women. 

“No one should be made to feel scared or uncomfortable whilst travelling, and we are committed to making sure women feel safer on the network.

“I commend the victim for her bravery in reporting this incident and would urge anyone who experiences or witnesses inappropriate behaviour on the railway to report it to us by texting 61016. In an emergency, always dial 999.”