Serial train masturbator back in prison after repeating ‘sickening behaviour’

A repeat offender has been jailed again for repeating his “sickening behaviour” of masturbating in front of women on trains, police said.James Gathercole, 40, of Leigham Court Road, London, committed his latest offence only 12 days after being released from prison on licence, according to British Transport Police (BTP).He was handed a prison sentence of two years and four months at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex, last week after pleading guilty to two counts of exposure and being in breach of a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and his prison release licence.A woman on a train from London to East Grinstead, West Sussex, noticed Gathercole staring at her from a nearby seat on the morning of July 15 last year.After passengers in the same carriage left the train at East Croydon, he “fully exposed himself and began masturbating, still staring at the woman”, BTP said.She got off the train at Upper Warlingham and reported the incident to a member of rail staff who contacted police.Officers boarded the train at East Grinstead, found Gathercole asleep on board and arrested him.It later emerged he was in breach of a SHPO and prison release licence conditions.In July 2024 he was jailed for two separate incidents on May 26 of that year when he exposed himself to women on trains in London and masturbated.