LEE READ'S SHAMEFUL CRIME SPREE ON LONDON TRANSPORT: GROPING SCHOOLGIRLS AND COMMUTERS
In a disturbing series of sexual assaults that shocked the London community, Lee Read, a 23-year-old man from London, carried out a month-long spree of groping women and a young girl on various public transport routes.His actions, which took place predominantly on the London Underground and buses, have left victims traumatized and authorities determined to bring him to justice.
Read’s pattern of predatory behavior involved him sitting next to unsuspecting women during their commutes on the Central Line.
According to court reports, he would strategically place his coat over their laps, creating a false sense of privacy, before reaching under it to touch their thighs.
This methodical approach was consistent across all four women he targeted on the Tube, as detailed during his trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.
The victims reported feeling helpless and uncomfortable, with all of them pleading for him to stop before he eventually moved away from him.
The most alarming incident occurred on October 29, involving an investment banker in her early 20s traveling between Walthamstow and Liverpool Street station.
As she attempted to distance herself from Read, who was sitting beside her, he forcibly grabbed her underneath her skirt, between her legs, as the train approached Liverpool Street.
When she tried to escape, he followed her off the train and continued to pursue her towards the station barriers.
She managed to tap her Oyster card and leave the station, but the assault left her shaken and distressed.
In addition to these incidents on the Tube, Read also molested an eleven-year-old girl dressed in her school uniform on a 379 bus.
The young girl described the assault as “disgusting” and “perverted,” and her account played a significant role in the police investigation.
Read’s arrest came after the police identified him through CCTV footage.
On December 14 of the previous year, a British Transport Police officer recognized him from images captured on CCTV while he was on the London Underground at Walthamstow.
The officer’s recognition led to his immediate detention.
It was revealed that Read had been involved in similar criminal behavior before, having been convicted of exposure in July 2010.
At the time of his arrest, he was also serving a 32-month sentence for a robbery committed just a day prior at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
During the court proceedings, Read admitted to five counts of sexual assault.
His criminal record and behavior resulted in a court order banning him from working with or being near children who are not his own.
His actions have caused widespread concern among London residents, especially those who rely on public transport for their daily commute.
The court sentenced him to 28 months in prison for his latest offenses, marking a significant step in addressing the series of sexual assaults that plagued London’s transport network.
