A man who pushed his groin into a 15-year-old girl on a crowded tube train has avoided jail time.

Lirim Nela sexually assaulted two victims on trains between July and October 2018.

The 33-year-old Barking man sexually assaulted his first victim on a Central Line train near Leyton on the evening of July 3.

The woman was travelling aboard the crowded train when she felt something shunting into her back.

The victim turned around to discover that Nela was pushing his crotch into her back. She confronted him but Nela fled the train before police could arrive.

On October 11, three BTP plain-clothed officers situated on the platform at Oxford Circus Underground station observed Nela stood back on the platform looking at women around him.

A group of people then boarded an eastbound Central Line service. Nela boarded the same train and was followed by the officers.

Police observed Nela pushing his groin into an individual within the group – a 15-year-old girl.

He was also seen to touch himself inappropriately over his tracksuit bottoms before the officers removed him from the service.

In police interviews, he denied sexually assaulting the 15-year-old girl and claimed the witnessing officers were mistaken.

However, In April of this year Nela, of Pickering Road, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault.

On Friday, May 28, a judge at Inner London Crown Court sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.

He was also issued a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and is required to pay each victim compensation of £500.

Nela will also be on an electronically monitored curfew between the hours of 7pm and 5am for five months

BTP Detective Constable, Ming-Xia Powell, said: “Neal’s behaviour was odious and wholly unacceptable – he imposed himself upon two separate victims for his own sexual gratification.

“I would like to personally thank the victims for assisting the investigation. Their help was vital in bringing him to justice.”