A Walthamstow man has been sentenced after he admitted to inappropriately touching two women on public transport.

Dinesh Ponnamperuma of Copeland Road pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 26 after his victims reported the incidents. 

The 35-year-old boarded the Victoria line at Blackhorse Road on January 22 and stood opposite a teenager but as the train stopped at Highbury and Islington, Ponnamperuma moved in front of the 19-year-old and started touching her inappropriately. 

A second woman was targeted onboard the 230 bus from Walthamstow to Whipps Cross Hospital on March 22 after Ponnamperuma sat next to her and touched her on two seperate occasions for several minutes. 

Following his guilty verdict on Friday, he has been placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years and given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £300 in victim compensation and £85 costs.

Detective constable Martin Chapman, of the British Transport Police (BTP) said: "These assaults were frightening for both women, who were very brave in reporting it as it was the right thing to do.

"We encourage anyone subjected to any unwanted sexual behaviour to come forward, and we will do our utmost to bring the offenders to justice."

BTP have recently launched 'Project Guardian' a scheme aimed at increasing reporting of sexual assaults and unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport in London.

If you believe you are the victim of unwanted sexual behaviour on the rail network, call BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.