Man jailed following 'appalling' sexual assault on Tube in central London

A man who carried out an “appalling” sexual assault on the Tube in central London has been jailed.

He has also been handed a five-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that will bar him from speaking to, approaching, or touching any woman that he does not know and prevent him from sitting next to or near any woman, and has been ordered to sign onto the sex offender's register for 10 years.

The attack occurred on Monday November 3, 2025 at around 9.30pm, when Lacaj approached a young woman sitting by herself on a bench on a platform at Leicester Square Underground station.

He sat next to her, asking her persistent personal questions, before following her onto a Piccadilly Line train and sitting next to her again.

He sexually assaulted the woman, which was noticed by two other people on the train. The two witnesses asked the victim if she knew the man, to which she shook her head.

Passengers began to shout at Lacaj and demanded that he move, at which point he became aggressive.

While passengers moved the victim away, a fight broke out between Lacaj and other passengers on the train, before an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer who was on the train intervened and arrested Lacaj on suspicion of sexual assault.

Lacaj claimed that he was just trying to help the girl get home.

Siljan Lacaj has been jailed for one year

BTP

In interview, Lacaj showed no remorse for his actions, and refused to answer any of the questions put to him.

BTP Detective Constable Dominika Rogers 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. I cannot praise the two women on the train enough for noticing what was happening and stepping in to support and protect her. Their actions undoubtedly made a difference and demonstrate the importance of looking out for one another when someone is in need of help.”