Serial practice masturbator uncovered himself to girl simply 12 days after jail launch
James Gathercole, 40, was arrested after a lone woman noticed him staring at her on a train in East Croydon, south London. He had been jailed the year before for similar incidents
Footage captured the moment he was caught(Image: British Transport Police / SWNS)
A serial train masturbator was arrested for exposing himself to a lone woman just 12 days after being released from a jail term for similar offences.
James Gathercole, 40, was nicked after a woman noticed him staring at her from a nearby seat.
Police said that after passengers in the same carriage alighted at East Croydon, in south London, he then fully exposed himself and began masturbating while still staring at the woman on July 15 last year. She left the train at Upper Warlingham station, in Surrey, and reported Gathercole’s actions to a member of rail staff, who contacted British Transport Police (BTP).
Footage shows Gathercole, of Streatham, south London, being arrested. Checks on the Police National Database then uncovered he was in breach of an existing sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and his licence conditions, having been released from prison just 12 days earlier.
In July 2024 he was jailed for two separate instances on May 26 2024 during which he exposed himself to women and masturbated, both on trains in London.
The 10-year SHPO he was issued with after that conviction prohibited him from travelling on public transport without a valid method of payment or making any form of contact with a lone woman. He breached both on the morning of July 15 2025.
Gathercole had also breached the conditions of his prison release licence on July 9 2025 by not being in his property after 7pm. He was further arrested for that offence at East Grinstead station.
He later admitted two counts of exposure, as well as being in breach of a SHPO and the conditions of his prison release licence. Gathercole was jailed for two years and four months at Lewes Crown Court on Monday last week (February 2).
The second count of exposure relates to a further incident whereby Gathercole exposed himself and masturbated on-board a train in south London on June 4 2024.
Detective constable Jean-Pierre Choolhun said: “It is entirely right that, following our investigation, James Gathercole is now back in custody. There is absolutely no place for this sickening behaviour in our society.
“We take all reports of sexual offending extremely seriously, and this case demonstrates that commitment. Our officers acted immediately, intercepting the train and arresting Gathercole shortly after the report was made.”
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