One of London's worst flashers masturbated in front of woman

Bobby Garande, who is one of London’s most prolific flashers, has 10 convictions for exposing his penis on buses and trains across the capital. 

His disturbing offending had led to multiple prison sentences as well as a court order banning him from touching his chest or penis, exposing his genitals or making eye contact with women on public transport. 

But the 30-year-old has now been jailed again after he masturbated on a bus in Lewisham in front of a mum and her baby. 

When he was arrested he told police he masturbates on buses because he struggles to get erect but the bus vibrations help. 

‘A blank stare’ 

Garande, of Linnet Close in Thamesmead, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday (June 20). 

Prosecutor Sarah O’Kane told the court that on March 22 Garande boarded a bus in Lewisham, sat down and began rubbing his chest. 

He then proceeded to touch his genitals over his trousers before taking his penis out and masturbating while staring at a woman who was with her infant baby. 

When the woman moved Garande followed her to another seat and continued to masturbate. 

“The woman noticed the defendant had been looking at her with a blank stare that was very intense,” Ms O’Kane said. 

“He stopped masturbating for a period of time when a group of males came down from the upper deck, indicating that he knew his behaviour was wrong, before taking his penis out and continuing.” 

Repeat offender Bobby Garande (Image: BTP)

Garande then got off the bus at the same stop as the terrified woman, who had to ask a member of the public to walk her home. 

When she got home she found Garande on the sex offender’s database and reported him to the police. 

In a victim impact statement she said she felt sick and angry and is now worried about going out alone. 

‘Pervert’ 

When Garande was arrested he told police: “I keep doing this, there’s a reason I keep doing this.” 

He later told officers the NHS had given him medication which resulted in him being unable to get an erection. 

Garande said the vibrations of the bus helped him get erect. 

He later pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and breaching a criminal behaviour order. 

This was Garande’s 10th conviction for indecent exposure. 

In September 2020 he was jailed for 16 weeks for exposing himself to a woman on the number 50 bus from Croydon to Norbury, while two children were sitting opposite him.  

Then in November 2021 he was on a train to Bromley South station when an elderly woman noticed him smiling at her and fondling himself while peering through a gap in the train seats. 

When the train arrived at Bromley South station she got off and was followed by Garande.  

She alerted security staff and Garande was arrested while he tried to run onto another train.  

The victim in that case told the court: "My sleep is affected and when I close my eyes I see the defendant and what he's doing on the train."  

He was jailed for 27 months but while he was in prison he was prosecuted for another offence which had taken place in October 2021.  

Garande had spent 15 minutes masturbating and touching his nipples while staring at a woman on a train from Blackfriars.  

He then left the train at Elephant and Castle and was arrested.  

For that offence Garande was given a further 26 weeks in prison, on top of the 27 month sentence he was already serving. 

Garande was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court (Image: PA)

16 month prison sentence 

Harriet Palfreman, defending Garande, said her client is deeply remorseful for his behaviour, which is a result of a mental health disorder. 

Ms Palfreman said Garande was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2016 after he spent a period of time homeless. 

“When he experiences declines in his mental health his behaviour becomes more impulsive,” Ms Palfreman said. 

She added her client is stuck in a cycle of offending behaviour which he wants to break. 

He had found secure accomodation after his most recent prison release and had been actively seeking work in bar and restaurants before he offended again. 

Judge Steven Kovats KC said Garande’s behaviour was entirely deliberate but added: “Mr Garande has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia and his judgement of what is appropriate behaviour is not always rational.” 

Despite this mitigation, Judge Kovats said the offence could only be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence. 

He sentenced Garande to 16 months in prison. 

Judge Kovats also made Garande the subject of a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).