CCTV has been released as part of a groping investigation on a crowded train involving a man who pretended to be asleep.

British Transport Police (BTP) has released CCTV images into the case of a 25-year-old woman being touched sexually on a train between Paddington and Oxford with both the victim and the groper getting off the train at Slough railway station.

BTP is appealing for the public’s help to identify a man who they believe will be able to help with their enquiries into the incident on Friday, September 26. The train left Paddington at 11.18pm with both the woman and man getting on the train at that station.

The man sat next to the woman - who was in a window seat - and groped her. The woman managed to move away from the man, who pretended to be asleep during the incident, before they both left the train.

Officers have been pursuing several lines of enquiry and are now appealing publicly for assistance identifying a man they want to speak to.

PC Gross: “Who is the man in the black and white striped top? Given his distinctive clothing, I am confident someone will recognise him from these CCTV images.

“This offence occurred the week after the Scottish independence referendum, on the final Friday of September. I would appeal to any potential witnesses who believe they were on that train to get in touch.” Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, or text 61016, quoting reference E/B7 of 16/04/2015. Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

This investigation is part of Project Guardian, a long-term initiative to reduce sexual assault and unwanted sexual behaviour on public transport in London.