A 52-year-old has been banned from all London Underground stations during rush hour for sexually assaulting a woman on the Central Line.

Muhammad Tahir, of Milford Road, Hackney, was charged with sexual assault by touching after he groped a woman on the Tube in 2014.

British Transport Police officers arrested him on Thursday, 24 July 2014, at Gramer Close, Leytonstone.

On Friday, he appeared at The Old Bailey in London.

The court heard how Tahir positioned himself directly behind a 25-year-old woman, who had also boarded the train at Mile End.

Tahir stood next to the victim and rubbed his clenched fist along the hem of her skirt which caused it to move.

The victim felt a sudden brush against her and turned around to notice Tahir standing closely behind her.

When the train pulled into Bethnal Green station, where a number of people alighted from the train, the victim moved away from Tahir, but once again Tahir moved closer and pushed himself against her.

Detective Inspector James Chamberlin said: “Tahir took advantage of a crowded train to assault a woman travelling on her own. The persistence of Tahir, and the fact he pursued his victim, left the woman very shaken, but despite this she showed courage and determination throughout the investigation and I’d like to thank her for her bravery.”

Tahir was arrested and found guilty at a hearing on March 5.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years with 12 months supervision and 150 hours unpaid work requirement.

He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from using rush hour Tubes between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 7pm for five years.