Man who grabbed woman’s hair and asked for kiss sentenced in legal first

A man convicted in the first gender-based harassment investigation by British Transport Police has been given a community order.

David Stroud grabbed a woman’s hair and asked if he could kiss her on an evening train from Hastings, East Sussex, to London.

He was arrested two days after a new law banning harassment based on a person’s gender came into force on April 1.

The 44-year-old man, from Dartford, Kent, pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court in May.

Tuesday’s hearing was the first such criminal conviction in England and Wales.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she felt “trapped, powerless and petrified”.

“Now when I leave the house, I always need a friend,” he said. “I can never go anywhere alone just because I’m a woman.”

The court heard on Tuesday that Stroud had previously admitted to a separate stalking campaign that lasted 22 months.

He was out on bail for stalking the victim on the train when he harassed her.

Stroud was sentenced for both crimes on Tuesday. He was told to complete a 15-day rehabilitation programme, do 150 hours of unpaid work and be given a 12-month community order.

‘He was paralyzed with fear’

The court had previously heard that Stroud was seated on the train next to the woman who was talking on the phone to her boyfriend at the time.

He was said to be “constantly leaning on her” and calling the woman “magical”.

The court also heard Stroud grabbed the victim’s hair, which he “perceived as sexual”.

Detailing that she was a victim of sexual abuse in her childhood, the woman said in her statement that the incident “paralyzed her with fear”.

He told Stroud to stop, but Stroud said, “Can I kiss you?” He continued talking to her before asking.

The court heard the woman replied “absolutely not”.

He said Stroud’s breath smelled of alcohol.

“Imagine being a small young woman while a large, drunk man tries to sit on you,” the woman added in her statement.

“I was an unwilling recipient of this kind of contact directed at myself.”

The woman’s boyfriend contacted British Transport Police after hearing the comments over the phone.

Stroud was later arrested by officers at London Bridge railway station.

Speaking before appearing in court on Tuesday, the victim said: “Some men may view this case and dismiss David Stroud’s actions as banter or someone being drunk, but they do not have the same fears as women.

“This justice proves that it is worth reporting to the police.

“If these crimes remain unreported and unpunished, nothing will change.”

‘A turning point case’

The offense for which Stroud was convicted falls under the Public Order Act 1986.

It covers intentional harassment directed at someone because of their gender, including when perpetrators target women and girls in public places, including streets, parks and public transport.

British Transport Police said they had arrested 26 people, all men, since the offense was introduced two months ago.

Olivia Rose, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described Stroud’s sentence as a “landmark case” that “marks a significant step forward in the protection of women and girls”.

“We will continue to ensure that everyone can feel safe as they go about their daily lives.”

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