A courageous victim of a smirking sex pest on a high speed train heading for Ashford, secretly took a photo of him, because she feared he was about to commit an offence.

The woman - referred to as "C"- then watched as drunken pervert Dean Benjamin exposed himself and performed a sex act.

But Maidstone Crown Court heard how she challenged him and he was booted off the late-night train at Ashford International.

The 38-year-old had also targeted two other lone women passengers travelling on the 23.37 Southeastern high speed service from London's St Pancras International station.

Now Benjamin has been jailed for 10 months and banned from travelling by train unless he uses a bank or Oyster card in his name and he cannot sit next to or opposite a woman travelling alone.

Prosecutor Richard Witcombe told how the incidents all happened in April last year while he was on bail for similar offences and was then jailed last October.

He said the first victim - known as 'G' - was confronted by Benjamin who was "aggressively" adjusting his trousers before hiding his manhood with a scarf.

Benjamin, from Bedford, then began performing a sex act on himself and she feared he was going to touch her when he moved seats. She got off the train at Stratford and reported the incident.

He then sat opposite victim "C" who saw him also performing the act while smirking and she then challenged him.

She later told police how earlier Benjamin had approached her on the station platform telling her: "You are going home with me". She then moved away from him.

The prosecutor said a third victim - known as "O" - then came forward and told police how she had found herself sitting opposite him on the same train.

She began feeling "uncomfortable" as he began doing a sex act under his clothing for "at least a minute-and-a-half".

Benjamin, who appeared by prison video link from HMP Bedford, had pleaded guilty to two charges of exposure and one of outraging public decency after the case was listed for a trial.

Mr Terence Woods, defending, said he had failed to appear at an earlier hearing because police had arrested him at St Pancras while he was on his way to court.

He is currently serving a six-and-a-half-month jail term for the previous offence of exposing himself, which also occurred last year, he was due for release next week.

Mr Woods said that Benjamin claimed he was drunk, depressed and lost and got on the Ashford train by mistake.

"These are unpleasant offences but doesn't lay his hands on any of these women, " he added.

Judge Julian Smith told him he had been on a late train that "you had no reason to be on."

He warned him the 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order - including the train restrictions- is designed to prevent him from repeating his behaviour and carries a maximum five year jail term if breached.

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