LAMBETH SEX OFFENDER STEFANO VIOLANTE SENTENCED AFTER UNDERGROUND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FILMING IN LONDON

In September 2019, a disturbing case involving a serial sex offender from Lambeth came to light, highlighting the dangers lurking on London's public transport system. Stefano Violante, a resident of North Street, Lambeth, was found guilty of filming and sharing indecent videos of himself engaging in sexual acts on the London Underground, as well as assaulting a sleeping passenger.

The offender operated under the anonymous Twitter alias “London-exhiboy87,” through which he uploaded multiple videos depicting him exposing himself and touching his own body inappropriately while on the Tube. These videos, which were circulated online, included one particularly heinous clip that caught the attention of British Transport Police (BTP). In this video, Violante is seen sexually assaulting a sleeping male passenger on a late-night Northern Line train in 2018.

Following a detailed and complex investigation, BTP detectives managed to identify Violante as the individual responsible. He was arrested earlier in 2019, and during the course of their inquiries, officers discovered additional offensive videos. These included footage of Violante exposing himself in public, which linked him to a previous incident of exposure on the Jubilee Line.

The investigation also led to the identification of the victim in the sexual assault. The victim cooperated with police, providing a statement that proved crucial in building the case against Violante. His actions prompted a swift legal response, culminating in his appearance at Blackfriars Crown Court on 13 September.

At court, Violante, aged 31, was sentenced to a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to wear an electronic monitoring tag for forty days and pay a victim surcharge of £140. Additionally, Violante is required to register as a sex offender for the next ten years and is subject to a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). This order imposes strict restrictions designed to prevent any further offending, including limitations on his travel and use of electronic devices.

DC Elaine Sexton-Thomas of the British Transport Police expressed her condemnation of Violante’s actions, stating, “The videos which Violante recorded and shared online were utterly disgusting – in an attempt to disguise his perverse behaviour, he would upload his videos under an online alias. Despite this, our enquiries lead us to identify Violante and thanks to the overwhelming evidence we supplied to the court, he was forced to plead guilty to nine counts of exposure and one count of sexual assault.”

She further emphasized that such behaviour would not be tolerated and praised the public for their role in reporting Violante’s offensive videos, which enabled police to take decisive action. “If he continues to offend, he can expect to serve time behind bars,” she warned.

Mandy McGregor, Head of Policing and Community Safety at Transport for London (TfL), also commented on the case, describing Violante’s conduct as “predatory and disgusting.” She expressed satisfaction that justice had been served and highlighted that the conditions of his sentence would significantly impact his daily life. McGregor underscored the importance of community reports, stating, “This case shows that every report helps to build a picture and that every report of unwanted sexual behaviour is taken seriously and investigated.”

As part of Violante’s SHPO, several conditions were imposed to prevent further offences. These include restrictions on his travel on London Underground, DLR, and London Overground trains unless he pays with a registered Oyster or contactless card in his name. He is also prohibited from taking photographs or videos with any device capable of sending or receiving images, except in specific circumstances such as employment or educational purposes, with proof provided to police upon request.

Further conditions prohibit him from deleting internet history, possessing devices capable of storing images unless made available for inspection, and purchasing or using evidence-elimination software. Violante is also required to make all relevant devices available for police inspection and must comply with restrictions on internet usage and device possession for the next five years, ensuring he cannot easily conceal any future misconduct.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and transport authorities to combat sexual misconduct on public transport and protect passengers from predatory behaviour.