Man charged in connection to string of tram sexual assaults

A man has handed himself into police after allegedly rubbing his genitalia against three women on crowded Melbourne trams, with his alleged victims speaking out about the horrific moment they were allegedly targeted.

Police have released images of a man they would like to speak to about alleged sexual assaults on Melbourne trams.

A man has been chraged with three counts of sexual assault after two of his alleged bravely spoke out against the “arrogant” sex offender who allegedly rubbed himself up against them on public transport.

The man is alleged to have “bumped and rubbed his erect genitalia” against the women in three separate incidents, before fleeing.

The man allegedly committed the offences on February 28, June 6 and August 18, two of which happened while on the 19A and 96 trams.

Sophie*, 46, and Mary*, 31, were both catching packed trams home when the man performed the sickening acts.

Police released images of the alleged offenders.

The women said they were left feeling angry and vulnerable after the attacks and both have struggled catching public transport since.

The Brunswick man handed himself into a police station on Wednesday evening, and has been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 28.

Mary said she was going to meet her husband and young family at the time of the attack.

She said she was “panicked” and “angry” at what had happened, and had to take time off work.

“I was really angry,” she said. “More anger than anything.

“My kids are asking why I’m upset and why I’m with police. I shouldn’t have to explain that sort of stuff to kids.”

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Senior Constable Hannah Smith, from the Transit Crime Investigation Unit, described the man as “brazen” and “arrogant” in his offending.

“It’s very brazen to be continually committing offences,” Snr Cons Smith said.

“It feels like he is quite arrogant about his offending.

“I don’t expect that the victims that have come forward are the only ones that are a victim of his offending.”

*Not her real name

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