Teenager Jailed for Sexual Assaults on West London Buses
Mohsan was 'predatory offender who brazenly targeted lone women in public'
Muhammad Mohsan, 18, of Ash Grove, Hounslow, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 6 June, to 16 months' imprisonment.
He pleaded guilty to nine counts of sexual assault at the same court on Tuesday, 9 May.
Between March 2015 and January this year, Mohsan carried out five separate sexual assaults on women, aged between 15 and 55, travelling on London buses. The attacks happened at various times of day and at several boroughs across London, including Brent, Westminster, Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham.
The first attack took place on 4 March 2015 on the 316 bus in Brent when Mohsan sat next to a 55-year-old woman on her way to work. Mohsan began rubbing his leg against hers and despite her trying to move away from him in her seat, he persisted and then sexually assaulted her.
When the victim got off the bus Mohsan got off as well and followed her along several streets, until she turned to confront him and he fled. Mohsan was identified by his Oyster card and bus CCTV.
The second attack took place on 14 December 2015 in Westminster. Mohsan befriended a 16-year-old schoolgirl and they boarded the 332 bus together. He encouraged her to sit next to him and then proceeded to try to kiss her despite her resisting him. He then took her on a 205 bus to a secluded alley near a park where he sexually assaulted her, before taking her on another bus, the 274, and sexually assaulting her again. When they got off the bus, the victim lied about where she was going as she feared Mohsan was going to follow her. Mohsan was subsequently identified from his telephone number which he had given the girl and was arrested.
On 12 January 2016, Mohsan boarded the 31 bus in the White City area and sat next to a 35 year-old woman. He began rubbing her leg with his before putting his hand on her leg. When she got off the bus, he followed and tried to engage her in conversation, asking if he could come to her home to charge his phone and telling the victim he would pay her £10 if she came to the park with him. Again he was identified by his Oyster card and bus CCTV.
On 6 March 2017, Mohsan boarded a bus in Richmond and sat next to a 20-year-old woman. He started rubbing her leg and thigh and then sexually assaulted her. The victim got off the bus and Mohsan followed her. The victim then went into a nearby shop and Mohsan stopped following her. On this occasion Mohsan used an Oyster card that was not his in an attempt to avoid detection. He also used his clothing and a bag to hide his hands while he sexually assaulted the victim.
The following day, a 15-year-old girl was on the 110 bus on her way home from her friend's house in Twickenham. Mohsan sat next to her and tried to engage her in conversation. This was in itself in breach of bail conditions of not to be with anyone under 16 if not with an adult that had been imposed following his arrest for the December 2015 offence. The girl could not clearly hear what he was saying and so responded in a way she thought was polite. Twice during the journey, as the bus passed parks, he asked her if she wanted to get off.
When she got to the stop for her home, the girl got off the bus and Mohsan followed her. Becoming fearful of his behaviour and that he might follow her home, the victim walked in the opposite direction but he followed her and grabbed her, pulling her into a nearby area screened from the road by a bush. He then sexually assaulted her before releasing her and the victim made her way home. Mohsan was identified by his Oyster card and bus CCTV.
Mohsan was arrested again on Thursday, 16 March and was charged on Friday, 17 March.
DC Simon Osborne, the investigating officer from the Met's Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: "Mohsan is a predatory offender who has brazenly targeted lone women in public, counting on their isolation and vulnerability to avoid being detected.
"He has shown little remorse for his actions or empathy for those he has assaulted. The lives of several of the women he attacked have been significantly impacted by his actions and the court has rightly taken this into consideration in determining his sentence.
"All of the women in this case have shown great bravery in coming forward and providing police with the necessary information for us to bring a prosecution and we thank them all for their support and assistance in our investigation.
"We would also encourage anyone who is the subject of a similar attack to take this case as an indication of the seriousness with which the police treat such matters and hope that this will give them confidence that if they do choose to report something to the police, the matter will be investigated thoroughly and positive outcomes can be achieved."
To report an incident to the police call 101. Information can also be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers.
June 9, 2017