A sex pest from Ponders End who attacked women travelling on the Tube has been sentenced to three years in jail and banned from the Underground for five years.

Middlesex Crown Court was told Mauritian, Iqbal Buckrally, 40, sexually assaulted ten women, from June 2004 to January 2006.

He regularly approached women to tell them that there was something unpleasant on their backs and offered to wipe it off for them. He then forced his hand down their clothing while making sexual remarks, the court was told.

Passing sentence last Monday, Judge Blackcell QC said: "You embarked on a course of conduct by pretending to assist women you had targeted by offering to clean their clothes and used that pretext to sexually assault them. They are entitled, to travel without being targeted by people like you.

He added:" I have read the statements made by these ladies and learned how your actions have altered their lives. They feel violated by you."

Detective Constable Douglas Fairbairn of British Transport Police said: "We are very pleased that the seriousness of these offences has been recognised by the courts with an appropriate sentence.

"These were extremely unpleasant assaults which caused Buckrally's victims great distress. I hope that they will take some comfort in knowing that he has received an appropriate sentence.

"Some victims of Buckrally did not report the offence until the investigation was featured on TV on CrimeWatch.

"I urge anyone who has been the victim of crime on the Underground to report the matter to British Transport Police so that we can investigate as soon as possible."

In addition to the three-year sentence Buckrally will be placed on the Sexual Offenders Register for ten years. The Judge also recommended Buckrally be deported after serving time.