A man has been jailed and banned from trams after sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl and a woman on Manchester’s public transport network.

Tahir Ali intentionally touched the woman and teenager in a sexual manner on city centre trams despite being challenged, his trial at Manchester Crown Court heard.

Police arrested the 37-year-old after taking victim and witness statements and checking CCTV footage.

Ali, from Lees in Oldham, has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting the woman in November and the teenager in December last year.

He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that will ban him from any Metrolink tram, platform or car park.

Ali had pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault.

PC Matthew Cowin, from Greater Manchester Police, said: “This sentence shows our commitment to keep passengers safe and in the knowledge they can use the transport network without any concerns around their safety.

“Violence against women and girls will not be tolerated, and our proactive patrols are the reason we provide visible enforcement and reassurance to all passengers.”

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GMP’s transport unit carried out its investigation alongside Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

Kate Green, from TfGM’s TravelSafe Partnership, said: “Tahir Ali used busy services to try and mask his offending, which he did brazenly and while surrounded by dozens of people.

“Thanks to the bravery of his victims in coming forward and the work of the TravelSafe Partnership – in particular the police – following these offences, he has now been brought to justice.”

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