A 36‑year‑old Nigerian man, Babatunde Odutola, was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison on Monday, September 14, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and breaching a suspended‑sentence order. The Manchester Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence following an incident on a train travelling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly on Friday, September 11.
What happened on the train
British Transport Police said Odutola, who has no fixed address and is a registered sex offender, approached a lone female passenger, looked her up and down and became aggressive when she refused to engage. He then exposed himself while seated in a wheelchair, began masturbating, stared at the woman and told her to “come over”. A fellow passenger intervened and escorted the distressed woman from the carriage.
- CCTV footage captured Odutola continuing to masturbate as other passengers moved through the carriage.
- Police arrested him after the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly.
- He was prosecuted and jailed within 72 hours of the incident.
Police response
Detective Constable Leonidas Christoforou described the behaviour as “terrifying” for the victim. “He’s shown little remorse for his actions and denied the allegations against him during his police interview,” Christoforou said, adding that CCTV and witness statements provided the evidence that led to the guilty plea. He noted that this was not Odutola’s first offence and that British Transport Police will continue to act against similar conduct on the railway.
“He’s shown little remorse for his actions and denied the allegations against him during his police interview.” – Detective Constable Leonidas Christoforou
Public safety reminder
The force urged passengers who experience or witness comparable incidents to report them by texting 61016.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
