A MIDDLEWICH man has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register after sexually assaulting a disabled woman on a train near Sandbach.

David Kemp, 55, of Manor Fields, was sentenced to six months in jail at Chester Crown Court on September 7, and was placed on the register for six years.

The court heard how Kemp and his victim boarded the same train at Sandbach station on June 12 last year.

He then approached the victim in an empty carriage, and asked her to move so he could sit next to her. When she refused, he tried to engage her in conversation. Again, she refused.

Kemp then dropped to his knees in front of her, and began running his hand up her leg.

She immediately reported the incident to the train guard, and Kemp was met and arrested by British Transport Police at the next station.

Investigating officer DC Mike Dermody said: “This was a terrifying experience for Kemp’s lone and vulnerable victim.

“Despite her making it clear on several occasions that she had no wish to speak with him, Kemp continued with his advances before touching her.

“It is thanks to her fast action in reporting the incident, despite being understandably shaken and upset, that we were able to arrest Kemp so quickly, preventing others from enduring a similar ordeal.

“No one should be subject to unwelcome sexual behaviour on the rail network and we will do everything in our power to find those responsible and, as in Kemp’s case, bring them before the courts.

“Our Report It to Stop It campaign, which aims to combat unwanted sexual behaviour on the railway by encouraging members of the public to report it, is proving very successful in supporting victims and bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”