A pervert who masturbated next to women on the London transport network has been jailed for 21 months.

Justin McCarthy, 37, of no fixed abode, touched himself underneath his clothing while sat next to female passengers on a number of busy underground and overground trains.

He was arrested after members of the public reported his lewd behaviour to British Transport Police officers.

McCarthy carried out his unsavoury acts near a number of train and tube stations across the transport network including Watford Junction, Oxford Circus, Brent Cross and Waterloo.

British Transport Police investigating officer PC George James said: “This result is a good example of our stance on those committing any form of unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network. 

“The incidents are all similar whereby McCarthy would board the train and sit near a woman and proceed to touch himself underneath his clothing.

"He would stare at the woman and attempt to gain their attention by tapping their legs with his feet if they attempted to divert their attention.

"Thankfully all the women reported McCarthy’s behaviour to police and he was eventually arrested and charged for the offences. 

“We simply will not tolerate such behaviour and take all reports very seriously. I encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network to report it to stop it as soon as possible to give us the best chance we can have in catching offenders.”

McCarthy pleaded guilty to six counts of outraging public decency and six further counts of breaching a criminal behaviour order, and was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday.