‘Twisted’ sex offender who targeted three lone women on public transport in three days jailed

A sex offender who targeted women travelling alone on public transport has been jailed for 16 months.

“Twisted” Izat Ullah, 25, sexually assaulted three victims in three days on trains travelling from London to Essex.

The first victim was on a train to Southend on 15 March when Ullah approached and sat opposite her before sexually assaulting her. She managed to break free and ran into another carriage.

Police arrested Ullah at Southend Victoria station but he refused to speak during questioning, instead laughing throughout.

He was released on bail the next day and banned from using the railway network in England and Wales but boarded another train to Essex that night.

British Transport Police (BTP) said Ullah sat opposite an 18-year-old woman and performed a sex act on himself before touching her inappropriately.

Hours later Ullah approached his third victim on a train to Southend, continuously staring at her and following her off the train as she hailed a taxi outside Southend East station.

He was arrested outside a children’s nursery on 17 March for failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register.

Ullah, of Queens Road, Hull, appeared at Hull Crown Court on 1 July where he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault, one count of exposure and failing to comply with the sexual offence register requirements.

A judge has now sentenced Ullah to 16 months imprisonment and he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Detective Constable Lucy Kingf said: “Ullah is a twisted offender who prowled the railway targeting lone victims for his own sexual gratification.

“He is clearly a danger to women and their right to travel safely and without fear. I’m pleased we were able to quickly arrest Ullah and put him before the courts.”

Ullah’s sentence comes as analysis of Home Office data by Yahoo News UK found that hundreds of cases of sexual offences on public transport were dropped due to no suspect being identified.

In the year to March 2021, 42.81% of 881 sexual offences reported to BTP were closed due to no suspect being identified, while 18.35% of reports led to a person being charged in this period.

These offences covered rape, sexual assault and indecent exposure.

The majority of the offences (581) were cases of sexual assault, out of which 42% were closed due to no suspect being identified.