A Bicester man has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a woman at a railway station.
Neil Shorter, aged 56, received a term of two years and three months at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday for one count of sexual assault and an additional stalking offence.
The incident occurred on August 13, 2024, at Newbury Railway Station.
A young woman was waiting for a train when Shorter approached her and asked for directions.
After a brief conversation, he left but returned moments later, sexually assaulting her from behind as she stood with her back turned.
The victim immediately reported the incident to station staff, identifying Shorter as her attacker.
Investigators discovered that Shorter was already in prison on remand, facing separate stalking charges at the time of the assault.
Police subsequently arrested him in prison on November 7, 2024, and charged him with sexual assault related to this case.
In addition to his prison sentence, Shorter was ordered to comply with a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and register as a sex offender for a decade.
Detective Constable Kirsty Birley from British Transport Police described the attack as shocking and occurring in daylight at a crowded station.
She noted that Shorter was observed pacing the platform before selecting his victim, indicating a premeditated assault.
Birley praised the victim’s courage in promptly reporting the incident and supporting the investigation that led to his additional prosecution.