A REGISTERED sex offender who was caught masturbating on a train has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Alex Taylor, 27, of Waltham Forest, London, was caught touching himself on a train from Paddington to Paignton on December 20 last year.

A passenger alerted a member of staff to Taylor's actions, who told him to stop.

He was arrested by British Transport Police officers at Reading Station, and he pleaded guilty on January 4 to outraging public decency.

He also pleaded guilty to failing to notify police that he had changed his address, a condition which was imposed from his previous conviction in 2013.

Taylor appeared at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, January 25 where he was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

The judge said he found it 'sinister and concerning' that Taylor had not been given a rehabilitation order following his first conviction.

For the act of outraging public decency, Taylor was given a 12-week sentence, and for failing to notify police of his change of address he was given a six-week sentence, both suspended for two years.

He was ordered to undergo a rehabilitation programme over a two-year period; to pay costs of £85, and a surcharge of £115.