Detectives are hunting for a man who performed a sex act while alone in a train carriage with a woman.
The victim reported the incident to police after spotting a man in the seats behind her indecently exposing himself.
She had boarded the c2c service at West Ham in east London, and noticed his behaviour when she stood up to get something out her pocket after the train went through Upminster station, police said. There were no other passengers in the carriage.
The suspect is said to have left the train later at Benfleet.
British Transport Police (BTP) officers have released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the incident, which happened on the 12.40pm train from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness on January 10.
PC Lauren Newling said: “I am keen to speak to the man in the CCTV image as he may hold vital information which could help us in our investigations.”
BTP have launched Project Guardian, a long-term a long-term project involving BTP, Transport for London (TfL), the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police, which aims to reduce sexual assault and unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport in London.
Call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016, quoting reference ESUB/B3 of 27/01/15, with any information.
