Tube attacker raped woman as she slept on Piccadilly Line

The British Transport Police have released a mugshot of a 'truly depraved individual' who attacked a woman as she slept on the Piccadilly Line.

Ryan Johnston, 37, exposed himself and put the woman's hand on his genitals before raping her in front of fellow passengers as she lay sleeping on the Tube.

Inner London Crown Court heard Johnston attacked the young woman, who had been out with friends, at the end of the Piccadilly Line during the two stop journey between Hounslow West and Heathrow Terminal 5 on 23 February 2020.

Earlier that same day, Johnston, who was described as a 'serious danger to women,' had exposed himself outside a house in north London and had been loitering around Tube stations.

The 'abhorrent' attacker has now been convicted of rape and sexual assault and is set to be sentenced on 29 September.

Johnston carried out the sickening attack in front of a horrified passenger, who was travelling with his young child.

He spotted his victim towards the end of the Piccadilly Line between Heathrow Terminal Five and Hounslow West on 23 February 2020.

Johnston claimed he actually knew the woman and had met her at as rave which she dismissed as 'nonsense.'

She said she had never been to his address, never been on a date with him and had never given him her phone number.

Johnston, of no fixed address, denied but was convicted of one count of outraging public decency, two counts of sexual assault, one count of rape and one count of attempted rape.

The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one count of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

Judge Nigel Peters remanded the pervert in custody at HMP Brixton ahead of sentence at 29 September and said: 'He drops his trousers, his penis goes towards the victim in sleep or not, it doesn't matter. He was observed by another passenger.

'Three hours prior to this he was dropping his trousers in north London.'

The court heard Johnston has previous offences linked to exposure.

'Obviously the rape has taken his conduct to another level than mere exposure,' the judge said.

Adjourning sentence Judge Peters said: 'There has to be a report that looks at dangerousness.'