Siljan Lacaj has been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years and will spend one year behind bars after sexually assaulting a woman on a train before a fight broke out
A man who followed a young woman onto a train before sexually assaulting her has been jailed. Siljan Lacaj, 33, of Haringey, was confronted by other passengers on the train before a fight broke out between them all.
Lacaj was sentenced on Thursday, September 24, at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to one year behind bars after being found guilty of sexual assault.
He was also handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that will bar him from speaking to, approaching, or touching any woman that he does not know and prevent him from sitting next to or near any woman. He was also ordered to sign onto the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years.
The court heard how on November 3 last year just before 9.30pm Lacaj was at Leicester Square Underground station when he noticed a young woman sat on a bench by herself at the end of the platform.
Lacaj approached and sat next to her, asking her persistent personal questions. He then followed her onto a Piccadilly Line train and sat next to her again.
He then sexually assaulted her, which was noticed by two other people on the train. The two witnesses asked the victim if she knew the man, to which she shook her head.
Other passengers began to shout at Lacaj and demanded he moved, to which he became aggressive. The other passengers then moved the victim away, and a fight broke out between Lacaj and other passengers on the train.
An off-duty Metropolitan Police officer who was on the train intervened and arrested Lacaj on suspicion of sexual assault, at which point Lacaj claimed that he was just trying to help the girl get home. In interview, Lacaj showed no remorse for his intimidating and disgraceful actions, refusing to answer any of the questions put to him.
BTP Detective Constable Dominika Rogers said: “Lacaj’s behaviour was appalling. He deliberately subjected a young woman, who was travelling alone, to a prolonged assault for his own gratification. There is simply no place for conduct like this on the railway network, and I am pleased that he has been held accountable for his actions.
“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for the courage and resilience she showed in coming forward and reporting what happened. I cannot praise the two women on the train enough for noticing what was happening and stepping in to support and protect her. Their actions undoubtedly made a difference and demonstrate the importance of looking out for one another when someone is in need of help.
“If you’ve been the victim of sexual offending on the railway network or have witnessed an incident, I urge you to report it to us by texting 61016 so that we can secure the justice you deserve.”
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