Train driver who took photos up sleeping woman’s skirt spared jail
A train driver who took photos up a passenger’s skirt as she slept has been spared jail.
Paolo Barone, 51, repeatedly aimed his phone between the sleeping woman’s legs on his 45-minute journey home from Blackfriars to St Albans on September 15, 2022.
His bosses at Thameslink helped identify him after seeing footage of the vile offences in which he could be seen still wearing his uniform.
Following his arrest at home in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, police found five images of the woman on one of his phones.
Barone was found guilty of voyeurism and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to complete a 55-hour rehabilitation activity requirement and sign the sex offenders register for seven years.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Daryl Keogh, said: ‘Wearing his work uniform meant Barone was in a position of trust when he committed this vile and disgusting violation.
‘Seeing the woman was sleeping and vulnerable he took the opportunity, not to watch out for her, but to commit this hideous act.
‘The woman was horrified when she learned what had happened as she slept.
‘We will stop at nothing to deter, pursue, arrest and bring sex offenders on the railway network to justice.
‘Every report is important. See it or experience it, you can report anything that makes you uncomfortable.’
Jean Cockerill, people director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: ‘We were shocked and appalled to learn about this incident.
‘As soon as we were made aware, we followed our internal procedures, which included suspending the individual as soon as he was identified.
‘We hold our colleagues to the highest standards of conduct and this type of behaviour will never be tolerated.
‘We thank the person for their courage in coming forward and reporting this crime, and we encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses this type of behaviour on the railway to report it to the British Transport Police.’
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