A serial flasher faces jail after admitting exposing himself to a teenage girl on a train in West Croydon.

Mark Ferguson of Edmeston Close, Hackney, pleaded guilty to flashing a 16-year-old girl while the train was standing at the station on October 22.

The 48-year-old also admitting breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) made in August 2008, when he appeared at Croydon Crown Court this morning.

Croydon Magistrates Court was told at a previous hearing on November 22, that Ferguson targeted the girl who was alone in the carriage at 8.15am.

Prosecutor at the hearing, Sam Maine said: "She was sitting on the train by herself, there were no other people in the carriage.

"She was sitting next to the electric signs, Mr Ferguson got on the train and asked her where the train was going.

"The Crown say that was a pretence as she was sitting next to the electric signs showing the destination. She tried to be helpful and asked where he was going, he said he didn't know.

"He then bent down as if to pick something up from the floor, but as he stood up his penis was exposed and it was erect. He was rubbing his hand on his thigh.

"The Crown say it was in order to get the victim's attention to the groin area."

The court heard shortly after Mr Ferguson left the train and went to stand on the platform where he stood staring at the girl until the train left the station.

It was revealed at the Crown Court today that Ferguson had previously received 21 months in prison for an offence of a similar nature.

He was prohibited under the SOPO from exposing any part of his body between his waist and knee in public except for the use of the lavatory.

Your Local Guardian: Police want to speak with this man about the incident

Ferguson's face could clearly be seen on the train's CCTV

Judge Nicholas Ainley adjourned Ferguson's sentencing pending pre-sentence reports, stating the court needed to hear more about him, particularly his "disturbing history" of sexual offences.

He said: "There is something potentially very troubling about this matter. Imprisonment is overwhelmingly probable and you should prepare yourself for it."

As part of Ferguson's bail conditions he must not travel on trains, tubes, trams or buses and must report to Stoke Newington police station on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

He will return to Croydon Crown Court on January 17 for sentencing.


TODAY'S TOP CROYDON STORIES