08 December 2023 , 19:48
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A "truly depraved" sex attacker who attempted to rape a sleeping woman on a Tube train in front of a horrified passenger and his child was today jailed for nine years.
Ryan Johnston, 37, carried out the horrifying attack on the Piccadilly Line between Heathrow and Hounslow West in the early hours of 23 February 2020. He exposed himself, put the woman's hand on his genitals and then tried to rape her, the Inner London Crown Court heard.
Judge Nigel Peters said: "They had to rush home in a state of fright...but worse was to follow. A young girl seemed to be on the Piccadilly Line as you, where you were riding the Piccadilly Line, clearly you had nothing else to do."
He exposed himself, put the woman's hand on his genitals and then tried to rape her, Inner London Crown Court heard (PA)He stated that the victim had overslept and found herself at Heathrow Terminal 5 which is the last stop, so she crossed the platform to get the train back, before Johnston followed her. "Within a short time of the train leaving Terminal 5 and she again was asleep because she had a good night out, you proceeded to sexually abuse and rape her", the judge added.
He continued: "You began to attempt to kiss her, you were touching her body and vagina over her dress. No passenger should be abused in the way she was, and it was done in the presence of others, there was number of passengers on the train at the time."
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"There was a man with his 11-year-old son sitting further down the carriage, the son was in an absolute state of stress. His father contacted police and became a witness in the case."
Johnston, of no fixed address, was jailed for nine years with an extended license period of five years. He needs to serve two thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for release.
As Johnston was sentenced, members of his family wept in the public gallery. Detective Inspector Paul Attwell of British Transport Police's Major, Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: "I have been a police officer for nearly twenty years and this is by far one of the most disturbing cases I have ever investigated.
"Johnston is a truly depraved individual who represents a very real and very serious danger to women. It is frankly unthinkable that someone could choose to subject a young woman to such a sustained and horrific attack while she was sleeping on an Underground train, and the fact that Johnston did so so brazenly in front of a member of the public and his young child speaks for his complete lack of shame or remorse which has continued throughout his trial.
"The profound impact his abhorrent offending has had on the victim cannot be underestimated, so I hope she can take some comfort in the fact justice has been served."