Serial Masturbator Back in Prison After Targeting Woman on Train

A man with a history of sexual offending has been returned to prison after exposing himself to a lone woman on a train just 12 days after being released on licence.

Following an investigation by British Transport Police, James Gathercole, 40, of Leigham Court Road in London, has been sentenced to two years and four months in custody. He was jailed at Lewes Crown Court on 2 February after pleading guilty to two counts of exposure, as well as breaching both a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and the conditions of his prison release licence.

The latest offence took place on the morning of 15 July 2025 while Gathercole was travelling on a London to East Grinstead service. A woman seated nearby became aware that he was staring at her. After other passengers left the carriage at East Croydon, he exposed himself and began masturbating while continuing to look at her.

The victim left the train at Upper Warlingham station and reported the incident to a member of railway staff, who contacted British Transport Police. Officers met the train when it arrived at East Grinstead, boarded the service and found Gathercole asleep on board. He was arrested at the scene.

Subsequent checks on the Police National Database revealed Gathercole had been released from prison just 12 days earlier and was already in breach of an existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order and his licence conditions. He had also breached his licence on 9 July 2025 by failing to remain at his address after 7pm, leading to a further arrest at East Grinstead station.

Gathercole had previously been jailed in July 2024 for two separate incidents on the same day, 26 May 2024, during which he exposed himself to women and masturbated on London trains. Following that conviction, he was made subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from using public transport without a valid ticket and from making any form of contact with a lone woman. He breached both of those conditions during the July 2025 offence.

One of the exposure charges he was sentenced for on 2 February also related to a separate incident on 4 June 2024, when he again exposed himself and masturbated on a train in south London.

BTP Detective Constable Jean-Pierre Choolhun said:

“It is entirely right that, following our investigation, James Gathercole is now back in custody. There is absolutely no place for this sickening behaviour in our society. We take all reports of sexual offending extremely seriously, and this case demonstrates that commitment. Our officers acted immediately, intercepting the train and arresting Gathercole shortly after the report was made. Anyone who is victim to, or witness of, a sexual offence on the railway can report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.”

Image: British Transport Police