A MAN who sexually assaulted a woman on board a train has been handed 200 hours of community service.

Kanwaljit Bal, 36, from Grays, followed a 24-year-old woman onto the 6.22pm c2c service at Fenchurch Street, sat next to her, then began touching her inappropriately.

He then showed her a picture he had taken of her on his phone.

The woman, who was left scared and intimidated by the ordeal, reported Bal to police when she got off the train at Chafford Hundred.

The next evening she was joined on the same train by officers from British Transport Police in plain clothes, and was able to identify Bal, who was on board.

Detective Constable Michael Bute, BTP’s investigating officer, said: "This was an extremely frightening experience for the victim and I commend her bravery for reporting the incident to police and later having the courage to identify Bal.

“Incidents like this are rare on the rail network, and generally it’s a very safe environment, but when they do occur they are treated very seriously.”

Bal, of Dukes Avenue, was arrested and taken into custody, where he was interviewed by detectives and denied the allegations.

His mobile phone was also seized for forensic analysis and he was later charged under the Sexual Offences Act.

He was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 28 October.

Bal has also been put on a community supervision order for 12 months and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Det Con Bute added: “Bal will now have a chance to reflect on his actions and repay the community as punishment for what he did. We welcome the sentence handed down to him.”