A "sordid" sex offender has been jailed after a woman woke up on the night tube to find her leg being stroked.

Michal Piczak, 31, and of Station Road, Walthamstow, was found guilty of sexual assault after the incident in 2019.

The court heard that on September 29 that year, the victim was travelling home on a Victoria line night tube when she fell asleep.

As the tube approached Walthamstow Central, she awoke to Piczak stroking her legs.

The victim kicked him away and ran to rail staff shouting “stop him, he’s been touching me”.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Michal PiczakMichal Piczak (Image: BTP)

Piczak was arrested by a British Transport Police officer and CCTV footage showed him reaching over the tube’s aisle to touch the sleeping victim before moving next to her to stroke her legs.

He pleaded not guilty at Inner London Crown Court on October 28 this year.

A jury found him guilty at trial and he was sentenced by a judge to one year's imprisonment, and to sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

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Detective Constable Ibrar Ahmed, investigating officer in the case, said: “Piczak is a sordid sex offender who targeted a lone woman as she slept and subjected her to a prolonged sexual assault. 

“His jail term sends out a clear message to anyone who exhibits this type of behaviour on the railway – we will catch you and bring you to justice without exception."