A “predatory sex offender” who thought he could get away with assaulting women during rush hour has been jailed and banned from using the Tube during peak times.

Emanuil Boros, 29, approached his victims from behind and touched them inappropriately either as they waited for a train or went through the barriers at Finchley Road and Balham in November and December 2016.

According to British Transport Police, Boros hoped the assaults would go “unnoticed” because of rush hour but his actions were reported.

Boros was arrested when BTP saw a woman react angrily after he touched her while passing through a barrier on December 8.

He was charged with four counts of sexual assault – two against the same woman in the space of nine days.

Boros, of Wellspring Cresecent, Wembley, pleaded guilty to the charges and on May 8, at Blackfriars Crown Court, he was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison and ordered to sign the Sex Offender Register for 10 years.

He was issued with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from entering Balham and Finchley underground or mainline stations for five years.

The ban also prevents him from entering any Tube station, boarding, attempting to board or travelling on any London Underground train, between 6.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

PC Mark Luker, from BTP based at London Bridge, said: “We are satisfied with the sentence handed to Boros, that he will be placed on the Sex Offender Register and has been banned from using the Underground at peak times.

“Boros is a predatory sex offender who specifically targeted women as they used the London Underground network to commute around the capital.

“He showed little regard for his victims, leaving them in shock and deeply upset. I would like to commend their bravery in coming forward and reporting these offences to us, which should give others the confidence to speak out.

“It is possible there are other women out there who Boros may have preyed on but, for whatever reason, have chosen not to report what happened.

“Our message to anyone who is a victim of unwanted sexual behaviour is that reporting it can help us to stop it: no incident or detail is too small or trivial. As this case shows, we will always take you seriously and treat you with respect.”