A 27-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a train in Essex, including trapping one victim inside a toilet.

Daniel Odubanjo, of King Avenue in Clapham, south London, attacked the victims while traveling on a train from Shenfield to Chelmsford on November 29, 2024. His victims were aged 21 and 17.

According to British Transport Police, Odubanjo’s first assault began when he repeatedly banged on a locked train toilet door. When the 21-year-old woman inside opened it, he forced his way in, pushed her back inside, locked the door, and restrained her wrists before sexually assaulting her.

Police said the victim attempted to escape and sought help from other passengers, but Odubanjo dragged her back into the toilet and continued the assault as she screamed for help. He only released her after she desperately claimed to be 14 years old in an attempt to stop the attack. The traumatized woman left the train at Chelmsford station.

Shortly after the first assault, Odubanjo targeted a 17-year-old girl on the same train. He approached her, asked inappropriate questions, and exposed himself. Although the teenager moved closer to other passengers and reported his behavior, Odubanjo returned, sat beside her, and sexually assaulted her.

A nearby passenger intervened and physically restrained Odubanjo until authorities arrived. British Transport Police officers arrested him when the train stopped at Hatfield Peverel station.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Odubanjo was found guilty of false imprisonment and two counts of sexual assault. In addition to the six-year prison sentence, he was handed a sexual harm prevention order and banned from being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on public transport or railway property.

The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about passenger safety on public transportation and the importance of bystander intervention in preventing sexual violence.