Woman left shocked by man’s sex act on train
A MAN who performed a sex act on himself in front of a woman on a train while high on drugs told police he was “looking for weed” in his trousers.
Lloyd Jones was described as having a “strange” look on his face while he exposed himself on the train after staring at his victim before moving closer.
Cardiff Crown Court heard other passengers were in the carriage when the 21-year-old moved seats and performed the sex act on himself.
Martin Liddiard, prosecuting, said the victim was travelling alone when she boarded the train at Cardiff Queen Street.
Jones was at the other end of the carriage and appeared to be with two friends when she noticed him staring at her.
He then walked towards her and sat across the aisle. Mr Liddiard said the victim then noticed Jones had his hand down his trousers and was masturbating while looking at her.
Mr Liddiard said: “To say she was left shocked is an understatement.”
The woman then left the train at Pontypridd where she alerted a station guard and the British Transport Police.
When she told officers what had happened Jones said: “No love, I was looking for weed down my trousers.”
No cannabis was found on Jones. CCTV footage from the train later confirmed that Jones, described by Mr Liddiard as a “heavily convicted young man”, did move seats and masturbated in front of the woman.
Lowri Wyn-Morgan, defending, said her client is “embarrassed, ashamed and disgusted” by the incident and has no recollection of what he did.
Ms Wyn-Morgan said her client claimed that the “strange” look on his face was due to him being “heavily intoxicated”.
She told the court that Jones has a history of mental health and drug issues with a number of previous offences that meant “he has spent the last three Christmases and birthdays in custody”.
Jones was handed a three-year community order for the offence of exposure after he pleaded guilty at a previous hearing.
Judge Geraint Walters said: “It seems that while high on drugs you targeted a lone female in the carriage and exposed yourself and then decided to masturbate in her presence.”
He told Jones that he has had a “pretty uninspiring start” to life but said he was prepared to give him “this chance”.
He added: “You are in a now or never moment. You really are. You are still young.”
Jones, of Dalton Close, Merthyr Tydfil, was also ordered to carry out six months of rehabilitation activity and will have to be on the sex offenders register for five years.