A repeat offender in Sussex has returned to prison for exposing himself to a lone woman and masturbating just 12 days after being released on licence.
Following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, James Gathercole, 40, and of Leigham Court Road, London, has been jailed for two years and four months.
He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on 2 February having pleaded guilty to two counts of Exposure, as well as being in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and the conditions of his prison release licence.
On the morning of 15 July 2025, a woman on-board a London to East Grinstead train noticed Gathercole staring at her from a nearby seat.
After passengers in the same carriage alighted at East Croydon, he then fully exposed himself and began masturbating, still staring at the woman.
She left the service at Upper Warlingham station and reported Gathercole’s actions to a member of rail staff who contacted BTP.
Officers responded by meeting the train at East Grinstead station where they boarded it and discovered him asleep on board.
He was promptly arrested and checks on the Police National Database uncovered he was in breach of an existing SHPO and his licence conditions having been released from prison just 12 days earlier.
In July 2024 he was jailed for two separate instances on the same day during which he exposed himself to women and masturbated, both on trains in London on 26 May 2024.
The 10-year SHPO he was issued with after that conviction prohibited him from travelling on public transport without a valid method of payment or making any form of contact with a lone woman. He breached both on the morning of 15 July 2025.
Gathercole had also breached the conditions of his prison release licence on 9 July 2025 by not being in his property after 7pm, and was further arrested for that offence at East Grinstead station.
The second count of exposure he was sentenced for on 2 February relates to a further incident whereby Gathercole exposed himself and masturbated on-board a train in South London on 4 June 2024.
BTP Detective Constable Jean-Pierre Choolhun said: “It is entirely right that, following our investigation, James Gathercole is now back in custody. There is absolutely no place for this sickening behaviour in our society.
“We take all reports of sexual offending extremely seriously, and this case demonstrates that commitment.
“Our officers acted immediately, intercepting the train and arresting Gathercole shortly after the report was made.
“Anyone who is victim to, or witness of, a sexual offence on the railway can report it to us by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.”
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