Michael Wainwright, 74, has been sentenced to eight months in prison and handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order after pleading guilty to exposing himself
A pervert has been locked up after being caught performing a “vile” midday sex act right next to a woman with a pram at a busy railway station. Michael Wainwright, 74, was caught pleasuring himself on the platform at Hebden Bridge station in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, on February 22.
The OAP has now been put behind bars for eight months and handed Sexual Harm Prevention Order at Bradford Crown Court, British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed. Reacting to the sentence, Det Cons David Bentley said: “Wainwright’s actions were nothing short of horrific.”
The incident unfolded at midday when a horrified member of the public spotted the pensioner masturbating right next to the unsuspecting woman and her pram.
The Express reports that they immediately flagged down station staff to report the stomach-churning scene.
A quick-thinking railway worker tried to spot the pervert on CCTV, but when they couldn’t see him on the cameras, they rushed out onto the platform to investigate.
There, the worker witnessed the stomach-churning act first-hand. Police attended the scene, and Wainwright was taken into custody.
BTP revealed that during his police interview, Wainwright admitted his crime and acknowledged it was wrong, but failed to give any explanation for why he did it.
Det Cons Bentley added that the pensioner later confessed he could have stopped himself from acting in the “vile manner” that he did, but simply chose not to.
Mr Bentley said: “There is absolutely no place on the railway for sexual offending and we’re committed to securing justice for victims and ensuring offenders like Wainwright have their day in court.”
Wainwright previously pleaded guilty to exposure at Bradford Magistrates’ Court on April 30.
BTP are urging anyone who witnesses a sexual offence on the railway network to report it immediately by texting 61016.
Mr Bentley added that no report is too small or too trivial, and the force will always take action.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity, Crimestoppers, completely anonymously on 0800 555 111.