A 45-year-old man has been found guilty of sex offences against teenage boys on trains in Kent.

Stephen Larcombe, a jeweller from Tonbridge, was found guilty in Southwark Crown Court of two counts of sexual assault against boys aged 16 and under.

The charges stemmed from a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation into serious allegations of sexual touching on young victims in 2006.

The first offence occurred on a train travelling between Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in January 2006 and the second offence was four months later on a train travelling between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood.

Police managed to track Larcombe down through public appeals using a CCTV image.

BTP London South Area Crime Unit Detective Sergeant Paddy Kerr said: “On both occasions he preyed on young boys in an attempt to satisfy his own sexual gratification.

"His actions were deplorable and have had a severe impact on the young victims in this case.

"The victims were brave enough to come forward and report these crimes to police and while the investigation has been lengthy, it has concluded with a guilty verdict.

"This will hopefully encourage any other victims of sex crimes to have the confidence to report such crimes so police can do their job and deal with such perpetrators."

Larcombe is set to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on May 6.