An evil sexual predator raped a sleeping woman on the London Underground in front of passengers including an 11-year-old boy. Ryan Johnston, 37, sexually assaulted the woman before raping her as she made her way home on a Piccadilly line train after an evening out with friends.
Det Con Kathrine Spencer said: “The offences committed by Ryan Johnston show him to be a dangerous individual who viewed women with contempt. He was simply concerned with his own sexual gratification at any cost.”
Before his vicious attack Johnston had chased two women who caught him masturbating as he peered through the window of a house near Bounds Green Underground station at around 4.45am on February 23, 2020, according to British Transport Police.
The women got to their door, managing to shut it just in time. But Johnston started banging on the door, shoving his hand through the letterbox as the pair hid under a stairwell. He eventually gave up and left.
About three hours later he boarded the Piccadilly line train at Heathrow Terminal Five, swaggering through a carriage and approaching the woman, who was asleep. He then launched his attack, which was witnessed by a Frenchman travelling with his 11-year-old son, and they reported what happened to the police.
But the crime was not captured on CCTV so officers were unable to identify the victim at that time, according to BTP. It wasn’t until December last year that Johnston was arrested at HMP Brixton where he was serving time for burglary after a BTP review of historic rape cases led to his being identified. Detectives identified the woman that same month.
He was charged with rape, attempted rape and two counts of sexual assault, while he was also charged with outraging public decency over another complainant.
The Frenchman was flown to the UK to testify at the trial, where he helped to rebut Johnston’s claim he knew the complainant and she had consented, according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
A jury found Johnston guilty of all five charges at the end of a two-week trial at Inner London Crown Court in August. He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Friday (December 8) to nine years in prison with a further five on licence, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Johnston has been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
Senior investigating officer, Det Insp Paul Attwell from BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “Johnston’s brazen attack in front of witnesses highlights his lack of shame or remorse for his actions, something which continued throughout his trial.
“I am thankful his violence and despicable actions have been recognised by the guilty verdicts and significant sentence. His depraved actions will have a life-long impact on the victim and those who witnessed this.
“I am thankful for their bravery throughout this investigation. I hope they can now find some comfort in the fact justice has been served.”
