Kristaps Berzins sexually assaulted a woman on the train from Birmingham to Manchester (Picture: British Transport Police)
A man has been banned from approaching or even sitting opposite women on public transport after a ‘terrifying encounter’ on the train.
Kristap Berzins was jailed for seven months and handed a five-year sexual harm prevention order after pleading guilty to sexual assault at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.
The order prohibits him from sitting next to or across from, approaching, touching or communicating with any lone woman on public transport.
Berzins must also sign the sex offenders register for seven years and pay compensation or £300.
It comes after he sat next to a young woman who was wearing headphones on a train from Birmingham to Manchester on June 30 last year.
Despite her ears being occupied, Berzins tried talking to her anyway, according to British Transport Police.
He kept making personal and inappropriate comments that became increasingly aggressive.
But he still was not satisfied with this intrusion into her personal space.
Birmingham Magistrates’ Court where Berzins pleaded guilty (Picture: Wikipedia)
The man, of no fixed abode, eventually sexually assaulted the woman.
She managed to escape when Berzins went to the toilet.
This gave her the opportunity to ‘quickly move’ to another seat and report what happened to a member of train staff.
Staff then alerted British Transport Police.
PC Molly Brunton Cole said: ‘This was a terrifying encounter for the young woman who bravely reported the incident and supported the investigation.
‘Thankfully now Berzins is one more sexual predator off the streets.
‘We take all reports of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual behaviour seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations.
‘If you experience or witness a sexual offence on the railway, I urge you to report it to 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app. In an emergency, always dial 999.’
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