A man who stalked a young woman through Leicester Square Tube station before sexually assaulting her on a Piccadilly Line train has been jailed.
Siljan Lacaj, 33, of Palace Road, Haringey, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on September 24 after being convicted of sexually assaulting the woman in November last year.
The court heard that Lacaj spotted the woman sitting alone on a platform bench at Leicester Square Underground station just before 9.30pm on November 3, 2025. He walked over, sat down beside her and began firing persistent personal questions at her.
When she boarded a Piccadilly Line train to get away, Lacaj followed her onto the carriage and took the seat next to her again. As the Tube travelled through central London, he sexually assaulted her.
Two fellow passengers realised what was happening and asked the woman directly whether she knew the man. When she shook her head, the commuters began shouting at Lacaj and demanding that he move away. He reacted aggressively.
Other passengers managed to move the woman away from him before a fight broke out between the commuters and Lacaj. An off-duty Metropolitan Police officer who happened to be on the train then stepped in and arrested the 33-year-old on suspicion of sexual assault.
When arrested, Lacaj claimed he had simply been trying to help the woman get home. Interviewed by detectives, he showed no remorse for what he had done and refused to answer their questions.
Alongside the year behind bars, magistrates imposed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order which forbids Lacaj from speaking to, approaching or touching any woman he does not know, and from sitting next to or near any woman. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for the next 10 years.
Detective Constable Dominika Rogers, of the British Transport Police, said: “Lacaj’s behaviour was appalling. He deliberately subjected a young woman, who was travelling alone, to a prolonged assault for his own gratification. There is simply no place for conduct like this on the railway network, and I am pleased that he has been held accountable for his actions.”
“I would like to pay tribute to the victim for the courage and resilience she showed in coming forward and reporting what happened,” she added.
The two women who challenged Lacaj when they saw the assault happening were also praised. DC Rogers said: “Their actions undoubtedly made a difference and demonstrate the importance of looking out for one another when someone is in need of help.”
Why bystanders matter on the Tube
The case has underlined the difference fellow passengers can make when someone is targeted on the network. Had the two women not spoken up, the assault could have continued for far longer.
Police say anyone who sees concerning behaviour on a train or platform should trust their instincts. If it feels safe, travellers can check on the person being targeted, cause a distraction, or rally other passengers and staff. Every Tube station has help points and staff who can intervene, and incidents can be reported discreetly by texting the British Transport Police on 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always call 999.
Reports do not have to be made on the night. Victims and witnesses can come forward days, weeks or months later, as happened here, with Lacaj convicted over an attack from the previous November. It follows other recent appeals on the Underground, including a BTP appeal after a woman was assaulted at Baker Street station and CCTV images released after a serious assault at Liverpool Street station.
What the sentence means
Sexual assault carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment when a case is sent to the Crown Court. Cases kept before magistrates, as Lacaj’s was, can attract up to 12 months in custody for a single offence, the full term he received.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order can be imposed on anyone convicted of a sexual offence and sets strict conditions designed to protect the public. Breaching the order is a criminal offence in its own right, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Being placed on the sex offenders’ register means Lacaj must keep police notified of his personal details, where he lives and his travel plans for the next decade. Failing to comply can lead to further prosecution.
The jailing comes amid continuing concern about safety on the Underground, with police also pursuing a murder charge after a man died following an assault at Liverpool Street and investigating an attack in which a man was beaten inside Earl’s Court station and then followed.
