A serial sex pest from Eltham who rubbed himself against women on the tube has been banned from using the London Underground.

Malcolm Schwartz, from Kingsground, assaulted a number of women on the Central Line during busy rush hours.

Between December 2017 and January 2018, the 19-year-old pervert touched sexually assaulted four different women on the Underground.

The first offence was on December 14 as the train was packed with morning commuters on the Central Line between Mile End and Bethnal Green.

Schwartz boarded the train and approached a 26-year-old woman, where he exposed himself and pressed himself into his victim.

He returned to the Central Line on January 8 where he assaulted two different women on the morning trains, aged 23 and 28, where he would touch them and press himself against them inappropriately.

The forth incident happened once more on a Central Line train at Bethnal Green station. Schwartz stood closely behind her, touching her inappropriately as the train travelled.

In each assault the victims reported the incident to police and British Transport officers were able to track Schwartz down.

He pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault at Blackfriars Crown Court and was sentenced on Monday (March 12).

He was handed a 62 week prison sentence, suspended for two years, and placed on the sex offenders register for ten years.

He is also forbidden from using the London Underground and DLR network and cannot sit next to a lone woman he does not know.

DC Thomas O’Regan from British Transport Police, said: “Schwartz’s behaviour was perverse. Over a two month period of time, he travelled on busy Central Line trains assaulting women for his own sexual gratification. His conduct was outrageous and I am pleased we were able to catch him.

“This complex case demonstrates the true value in reporting unwanted sexual behaviour to police. The victims each provided us with clear accounts of what happened, enabling us to clearly identify Schwartz as the perpetrator.”

Siwan Hayward, Transport for London’s head of transport policing, said: “The actions of Schwartz were demeaning, unacceptable and intimidating. We do not tolerate unwanted sexual behaviour on London’s public transport network and I commend all those who came forward to report what they saw.

“Every report matters and it helped police build a picture so they could catch Schwartz and sentence him for his offensive, disgusting crimes.”