BTP welcomes first sex-based harassment conviction
A man who targeted a woman travelling alone on a train has become the first person convicted under new legislation targeting sex-based harassment.
David Stroud, 44, of Dartford, Kent, was sentenced at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court after previously pleading guilty to intentionally harassing a woman because of her sex following an incident on a train to London on April 3, just two days after the new offence came into force.
Stroud was handed a 12-month community order, 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also sentenced for a separate stalking offence involving a different victim and made subject to a five-year restraining order.
The court heard Stroud sat next to a woman travelling alone, made repeated inappropriate comments, grabbed her hair and asked if he could kiss her. Despite being told to stop, he continued the behaviour, leaving the victim feeling distressed and unsafe.
When initially questioned by police, Stroud described his actions as “just banter”, but later admitted the offence.
The conviction is the first under Section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, a new offence introduced on April 1 to strengthen protections against sex-based harassment in public spaces. The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.
Detective Superintendent Sam Painter, of British Transport Police, said the force had pressed for the legislation to support efforts to tackle sexual harassment on the rail network.
“David Stroud is the first man to be convicted of a Section 4B offence, but this is just the start,” he said. “Since the legislation was introduced two months ago, we have made 26 arrests – all men – for this offence.”
Jennifer McDowall, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Midlands, said the case demonstrated that behaviour often dismissed as “banter” could amount to criminal conduct. “This case sends a clear message that behaviour like this is not harmless and will not be tolerated,” she said.
Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Claire Hammond, from the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, said the outcome highlighted policing’s commitment to tackling misogyny and violence against women and girls.
She added: “The outcome today shows the commitment of policing and partners to pursue perpetrators and raises awareness of this new legislation.”
The victim welcomed the conviction and encouraged others to report similar incidents, saying the case demonstrated such offences would be taken seriously by police.