- David Stroud, 44, received the first-ever conviction for harassment based on a person’s sex after making sexually motivated comments to a woman on a train to London on April 3.
- The incident occurred just two days after a new law, Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, came into force, banning harassment because of a person’s sex.
- Stroud, who was on bail for a separate 22-month stalking campaign, grabbed the woman's hair, told her "you're magical," and asked "can I kiss you?" while she was on the phone to her boyfriend.
- His comments were overheard by the woman's boyfriend, who alerted British Transport Police , leading to Stroud's arrest at London Bridge station, where he claimed it was "just banter."
- Stroud pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, 150 hours’ unpaid work, a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring tag, and a five-year restraining order for the stalking victim.
IN FULL
Train passenger who harassed woman sentenced in first prosecution under new law
