A pervert who masturbated in front of young women on south London trains has been jailed. 

James Arthur George Gathercole, 39, targeted women on trains in two seperate incidents on Sunday May 26. 

At 3.20pm he sat opposite a 27-year-old woman on a train from Motspur Park station to Wimbledon station. 

Gathercole then proceeded to masturbate and expose his penis in the woman’s eyeline. 

Then at 7.20pm the same evening he boarded a train at West Sutton station heading to London Blackfriars. 

He sat down in the eye line of a 19-year-old woman and began masturbating and exposing his penis. 

One of the victims was able to record the incident, helping police identify Gathercole. 

He was subsequently located and arrested. 

After he was found guilty of two counts of exposure at Inner London Crown Court last Tuesday (July 2) Gathercole was jailed for two years and eight months. 

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) was made banning him from travelling on trains or entering stations without notifying his offender manager. 

He is also banned from approaching, following, touching or communicating with any lone female he does know. 

The SHPO further states he cannot undo, loosen, or remove, totally or partially, any item of clothing below the waist, whilst in any public place, or touch himself in any way that would be considered lewd or obscene. 

The order will last for 10 years. 

Gathercole has been jailed for two years and eight monthsGathercole has been jailed for two years and eight months (Image: BTP)

Investigating officer DC Potter said: “Gathercole has acted in a disgusting manner choosing the young women to target.   

"Gathercole will be able to consider his actions while serving time for his crimes.  The SHPO will ensure he is not able to target anyone again and should allow for him be able to learn from his actions.  

"We take all reports of sexual assault seriously and with the full support of victims in such cases this shows the positive results we are able to achieve."