Mohammed Marinov, 27, from Enfield, has been jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one of outraging public decency
A man has been jailed for two years after he carried out a series of sexual assaults on young girls and women on buses across north London.
Mohammed Marinov, 27, from Enfield, pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault and one of outraging public decency on Friday September 7 at Wood Green Crown Court.
The assaults happened at busy times on the 279, 34 and 102 London bus routes and some of the girls were wearing school uniforms at the time.
The first incident happened on Thursday, 25 January at 6.30pm. An 18-year-old girl was travelling on a route 279 bus from Ponders End towards Waltham Cross.
As she stood on the busy bus, near to the luggage rack, Marinov stood beside her and during the journey she felt her jacket being lifted. She was then sexually assaulted.
The victim was shocked and scared and did not know what to do or how to tell anyone. She finally got away from him when a seat became available.
Marinov then told her to allow an elderly woman to sit in her seat. She moved and stood near the luggage rack, where he again sexually assaulted her. When she reached her destination, she ran from the bus and hid behind the bus shelter.
Just over a week later Marinov assaulted a 14-year-old girl when she got on the 279 bus at Ingersoll Road at 7.30am to travel to her school in Enfield.
When Marinov boarded the bus he began to stare at the victim and stood close to her, making her feel uncomfortable. He sexually assaulted her and got off the bus at the Enfield Highway bus stop.
On Wednesday, 21 February at 7.45am a 15-year-old girl boarded a route 279 bus at Nightingale Road, N9 with her brother and friend.
The bus was busy so she stood in the disabled bay area. Marinov also stood in this area and brushed his hand against her. The victim initially thought this was accidental.
A few minutes later he sexually assaulted her, forcefully enough to make her jump forward. She was able to move away from him when passengers got off the bus at the next stop.
On Monday, 12 March at around 8am, a 16-year-old girl boarded a busy route 34 bus at the Great Cambridge Road Roundabout area.
She was standing in the middle section of the lower deck when she felt something repeatedly touch her bottom. As she tried to move away Marinov sexually assaulted her. She then got off the bus.
On March 15 Marinov exposed himself to a 17-year-old girl on a route 102 bus on Fortismore Avenue towards Bounds Green.
Marinov was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court and also ordered to comply with Sexual Offender Requirements for ten years and served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (stock picture)
She sat on the upper deck at around 8.50am and noticed Marinov board the bus and sit on the seat parallel to her. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Marinov exposing himself.
On Wednesday, 2 May at around 8.10am a 16-year-old girl boarded a route 34 bus near the Millfield Theatre, N18 with her friend. The bus was busy and Marinov stood directly behind her and pressed himself against her.
At the time of the assaults some of the victims were dressed in their school uniforms. and all the victims reported the incidents shortly after the attacks.
Marinov was arrested on On Friday June 8 after an officer in Haringey recognised him from bus CCTV. He was charged with the above offences on 8 June and remanded into custody.
He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on Friday September 28 and also ordered to comply with Sexual Offender Requirements for ten years and served with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detective Sergeant Edward Coleman, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: ‘Marinov is an offender who has shown complete disregard to these victims, carrying out brazen and predatory assaults that left the young victims extremely distressed.
‘I would like to thank all the victims and witnesses in this case for coming forward and finding the courage to speak about what happened to them.
‘We hope this sentence serves as some small comfort to the victims in knowing Marinov has been punished for the crimes he has committed.’
Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance and Policing at Transport for London, said: ‘The predatory actions of Marinov were appalling. With our partners in the Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police we are committed to eradicating sexual offences from London’s public transport.
‘We commend the victims for reporting and supporting the police investigation. This case sends a clear message that this behaviour is not tolerated on our network and offenders will be caught and have to face justice for their disgusting crimes.’
Unwanted sexual behaviour on the transport network will not be tolerated and all sexual offences are taken very seriously.