ANDREW LEONTIOU OF HOLLOWAY BANNED FROM LONDON OVERGROUND AFTER FLASHING TEENAGE GIRLS

In December 2013, a disturbing incident involving a man from Holloway, Andrew Leontiou, took place on the London Overground, leading to significant legal repercussions and a five-year ban from the service. The case drew considerable attention due to the nature of the offense and the subsequent measures taken by authorities to prevent future incidents.

Leontiou, aged 27 and residing on Benwell Road in Holloway, was involved in a series of alarming behaviors on a train service between Caledonian Road and Kentish Town. The incident occurred in June when he was observed by CCTV following two teenage girls, aged 13 and 15, on the platform and then on the train itself. The footage clearly showed him exposing himself behind the girls as they traveled between stations.

According to reports, Leontiou boarded the same train as the girls at approximately 7:40 in the morning. During the journey, he exposed himself again, and when the girls noticed his actions, they attempted to distance themselves from him by moving away. Their efforts to escape were unsuccessful, as Leontiou continued to follow them along the train. The victims disembarked at Kentish Town and promptly reported the incident to a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

British Transport Police officers responded swiftly, and Leontiou was later apprehended at Gospel Oak station by a PCSO. His arrest was part of ongoing investigations into his behavior, which was particularly concerning given his prior criminal history. Leontiou was already on license for a previous sexual offense, which added gravity to the case.

In a court hearing held at Blackfriars Crown Court on December 9, Leontiou was sentenced to six months in prison for his actions. Beyond his incarceration, the court imposed a five-year ban preventing him from boarding London Overground trains during peak hours. This measure was part of a broader effort to protect passengers and prevent further incidents of a sexual nature on the rail network.

Additionally, Leontiou was prohibited from entering Clissold Park and Sobel Leisure Centre until 2018. These restrictions were linked to his criminal record, which includes a conviction for a serious sexual assault committed in May 2011 at Clissold Park, Stoke Newington. He was also convicted of multiple sexual assaults at Sobel Leisure Centre and in Highbury Crescent in April of the same year. His previous convictions resulted in a 39-month prison sentence and his registration on the Sexual Offenders Register.

British Transport Police utilized Leontiou’s criminal history to strengthen the case for the ban, emphasizing the importance of ongoing safety measures. Pc Robert Reed, a police officer involved in the case, stated, “Leontiou’s predatory nature caused not only alarm to the teenagers, but they were forced to leave the train early to escape him.” He further explained that following the sentencing, authorities applied for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) to prevent Leontiou from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

Reed added, “We welcome the sentence and SOPO handed to Leontiou and hope it serves as a warning that sexual offences anywhere on the rail network will not be tolerated and are taken extremely seriously by police and the courts.”

The case is also part of a broader initiative called Project Guardian, which involves British Transport Police, the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and Transport for London. This project aims to improve reporting mechanisms and protect victims of sexual offenses on public transport, reinforcing the commitment to safety and accountability across London’s transport network.