Man found guilty of committing sex act on a Metro train

A Seaham man has been found guilty of committing a sex act towards a woman passenger on a Metro train.

John Muir, 30, of Vincent Street, in Seaham, was convicted in his absence of committing an act of outraging public decency on a Tyne and Wear Metro train at a hearing at Sunderland Magistrates Court.

Prosecutor Michael Rose told the court that the incident took place at around 10pm on January 16, 2019, when Muir put his hands down his trousers and committed a sexual act while staring at a female passenger – who got off the train at University station in Sunderland and took a photo of Muir before departing.

She told magistrates: “I didn’t feel safe, I was shocked, terrified and disgusted by it, I was just focused on escaping the situation safely.

"I first saw him through the reflection in the window as it was dark outside and I tried not to give him any attention.

"I didn’t want to see what he was doing, so I quickly took a photograph of him so he could be reported, not just for myself but for other ladies as well.”

The court heard that during his police interview, Muir acknowledged that he was on the train and was the person in the photo taken by the witness but denied committing a lewd act, claiming that he only had his hands in his pockets due to being embarrassed by his finger nails – which he chews.

Chairperson of the bench, Helen Midlane, said that the prosecution had “proven beyond reasonable doubt” that Muir had committed the act and found him guilty.

The bench then went on to issue a warrant without bail for Muir ahead of sentencing.