Iqbal Chand, of Nuxley Road in Belvedere, was seen laughing and smiling with his family while leaving court with a suspended prison sentence.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault after he grabbed a 14-year-old girl’s bottom twice.
Prosecutor Claire Langevad told the court the victim was travelling with her nine-year-old sister on an Elizabeth Line train when she spotted Chand staring at her.
As she stood to get off the train Chand stood behind her and touched her bottom, Ms Langevad said.
The girl and her sister got into the lift without Chand following them, but when the lift reached the top he was there waiting for them.
He then followed the girl into a second lift where he stood behind her and grabbed her bottom for a second time, even more forcefully.
The incident took place at around 5pm on July 15.
Chand was later arrested at Swiss Cottage Station.
Summarising a victim impact statement, Ms Langevad said the 14-year-old girl is now scared to go on the train and can’t understand why a man would do that to anyone.
Peter Bedingfield, defending, said Chand is extremely remorseful.
While there was no explanation for his behaviour, a probation report writer speculated that it could be due to low self-esteem as a result of family issues he was experiencing, Mr Bedingfield said.
Judge Freya Newbery said: “This is a sad case Mr Chand because you’re 31 and have never been in trouble before. You’re a hard working person, you have a young child.
“This offence was totally out of character for you. Who would have thought you’d do something like that? Nobody.”
Judge Newbery decided to give Chand a nine-month sentence suspended for one year.
She said: “I’m quite persuaded, first of all, that there’s a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. I don’t think you’ll ever do something like this again.
“Secondly, you have caring responsibilities which would make it very hard on your wife and baby daughter if you were in custody.”
Chand will be required to attend rehabilitation days and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Newbery said she would not make him pay the prosecution’s costs as he does not have a job so the money would end up coming from the pockets of his friends and family.
Chand will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for five years.
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