A sex offender was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service after groping a woman's buttock at St Margarets station.

Ranjit Singh Soni, 36, of Summerwood Road in Isleworth, approached the woman in broad daylight, who was waiting for a train on November 19, last year.

He was also ordered to pay total costs of £220, including £75 compensation to the victim, at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 20.

Prosecutor Caroline Mungal said the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, felt uncomfortable because of Soni's presence on the platform.

She said: "She was sat on a bench having her lunch while Mr Soni stood about 3ft away from her - she looked up and saw he was staring directly at her.

"She thought his behaviour was rather odd and she was feeling uncomfortable when he sat next to her, still staring at her, and thought he was going to take her bag.

"She says he slid along the bench towards her when she felt Mr Soni’s hand under her right buttock - she challenged him but he said nothing."

Ms Mungal said the victim then alerted a South West Trains staff member and told them what happened.

Soni, who appeared unrepresented after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing, communicated through a Punjabi interpreter and chose to make no comment in court.

The victim of Soni’s sexual assault has been left feeling "cautious" when using public transport, Ms Mungal added.

She added: "The victim says she uses St Margarets station regularly and this experience now makes her feel very cautious using it and the railways again.

"She said ‘the man appeared not bothered that he assaulted me and I find the way that he behaved has left me feeling angry and upset’."

Soni has one previous conviction of common assault, dating back to 2009.