A MAN who twice propositioned lone women travellers at York Railway Station while pulling his trousers tight to draw attention to his crotch was jailed for four years.

Although Andrew Dawson, 29, never actually touched his victims, aged 25 and 35, he admitted indecently assaulting them by "invading their space" and York Crown Court heard the women were now too scared to travel by train at night.

Dawson, of Vickers Croft, Northallerton, was told by Judge Paul Hoffman he considered him a danger to women and said the accused gained as much pleasure from planning his actions as he did from carrying them out.

The judge said it was true Dawson had not laid a finger on the women, but he had invaded their space and rightly confessed to indecent assault.

Prosecutor Paul Williams said in June 1999, at York Railway Station, the 25-year-old woman sat on a platform bench just before 10pm waiting for a train to Harrogate. The area was deserted and she was approached by Dawson who stood so close to her she could not stand up and escape.

Mr Williams added the accused then pulled his trousers tight across his groin, showing the shape of his genitals, and asked the frightened women: "Do you want a bit of this?"

"She was shocked and scared and looked for a way to escape. She shouted for help but none arrived and she told the accused to go away. Luckily her train arrived and she was able to get on it and go," added Mr Williams.

In March 2000, again at York Railway Station, the 35-year-old woman boarded the 11.30pm train to Northallerton.

Mr Williams said after almost all the passengers left at an earlier station and she and Dawson were alone he leant over her holding his groin. He pulled his trousers tight and said: "Come on babe, you know you want it."

She felt annoyed and frightened and at Thirsk got off the train to take a taxi. It arrived after 20 minutes, but Mr Williams said as the woman waited she became nervous and panicky, very tearful and upset.

He added: "Now both of these women are no longer able to travel by train at night as a result of what happened. They are left nervous of using trains."

Dawson told police: "I may have just happened to scratch my groin."

His barrister, Robert Terry, said the accused presented somewhat of a risk to women. However, he did not touch either of the victims, although he may have "invaded their space". They were anxious because they believed he would molest them but he walked off once they made it clear he was not wanted.

Judge Hoffman said Dawson had some sort of personality disorder and had been locked up for five years by Newcastle Crown Court in 1992 for attempted rape. Apart from the four year prison sentence he ordered Dawson should go on extended parole for a further four years following his release from prison.

He must also register as a sex offender.

Updated: 09:03 Friday, July 06, 2001