A chef who exposed himself and sexually assaulted a woman on a train late at night had "behaved like a dog", a judge said.

Predatory Christopher Swindells, from Broadstairs, left his victim so frightened of using public transport that she had to buy a car.

But she later bravely came forward to bring the 27-year-old dad to justice after considering the tragic case of Sarah Everard.

"I had a duty to the public in case he did it again," the woman told Canterbury Crown Court.

Swindells, of Caernarvon Gardens, initially told police she had flirted with him and the incident was consensual.

But he later admitted that was not true and pleaded guilty to the offences when the case came to court.

The woman was travelling alone in July last year when she was approached by Swindells at Whitstable railway station. She told the court he appeared "young enough to be my son".

She did not know him, but he started talking to her as they both waited for a train.

He helped her lift her bicycle into the carriage. But he then sat down next to her, drinking pre-mixed Jack Daniels from a can, and put his arm around her.

Richard Hutchings, prosecuting, described how Swindells, who has a young child, then exposed his penis.

The incident was captured on the train's CCTV system which was played in court.

The victim is seen moving to other seats but Swindells continues to pester her, exposing himself again, then taking her hand and attempting to make her touch him intimately. He also touched her groin and 'thrust' himself against her.

"Then I thought of the Sarah Everard case and how it would make me feel if something else happened..."

Mr Hutchings described it as a "sustained" assault on a victim who clearly did not encourage his attention.

Her "sickening" ordeal ended when Swindells fell asleep and then got off the train at Broadstairs while she continued her journey.

The woman gave a written impact statement to the court in which she revealed the affect of the assault on her.

She described how scared she felt at the time but tried to stay calm for fear of escalating the incident into something even more serious.

Afterwards, when the gravity of the incident sunk in, she was left in shock and more fearful in public.

She said: "I thought, you're young enough to be my son. What an idiot, why have you done this?

"Then I thought of the Sarah Everard case and how it would make me feel if something else happened. I had a duty to the public in case he did it again."

Ms Everard was raped and murdered by former Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, from Deal, who recently appeared in court facing a number of accusations of flashing.

Mr Hutchings told the court that although Swindells had no history of sexual offending, he "was not a man of good character", with nine previous convictions.

Most recently he was convicted of criminal damage, using threatening behaviour and assault and given a probation order with unpaid work.

"It was sustained and serious offending against a lone woman travelling late at night..."

Now he has stands convicted of three sexual assaults and two indecent exposures, which Mr Hutchings said all related to the same continuous incident with the same victim on the train.

Diana Pigot, defending, said she accepted her client had displayed "very concerning" behaviour and faced a prison sentence but urged the judge to suspend it.

She said Swindells was remorseful and responding well to a current probation order imposed for more recent non-sexual offences.

Ms Pigot spoke of the defendant's "troubled upbringing" and "glowing" reports of his progress from his probation officer.

She said he was dealing with his drinking problem and would be subject to stringent conditions and a challenging course for sex offenders.

"It is clear it has changed her behaviour in public, perhaps forever."

But Judge Mark Weekes said Swindells had behaved like a dog on the train and he was not persuaded to suspend the sentence.

He described the victim's statement as "thoughtful and insightful" which he had read with care and concern.

"It's conclusion is a stark reminder of the effect this kind of offending on its victims," he said.

"This was frightening and concerning behaviour. It was sustained and serious offending against a lone woman travelling late at night.

"The time and location of these offences are extremely relevant and aggravating features.

"I doubt she will ever forget it. It is clear it has changed her behaviour in public, perhaps forever."

He said he took into account Swindells guilty pleas and the mitigation but said he considered him a risk to the public.

"I have unhesitatingly reached the view that in this case appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody," the judge concluded, as he jailed him Swindells for 12 months.

The judge is now considering the terms a sexual harm prevention order to be placed on Swindells.

Following his sentencing, British Transport Police Det Con Ellen Whinney, said it was clear from Swindells’ sickening actions that he is a danger to women and girls, and she was pleased to see him behind bars.

"This was a truly distressing incident for the victim who has shown immense bravery by coming forward and giving an account of what happened to her," she said.

"No one should be subjected to such predatory behaviour as they travel, and we are working tirelessly to tackle sexual offenders across the network."

Anyone who witnesses or experiences a sexual offence on the railway is urged to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.