A Thameslink train driver who took photos up a woman’s skirt while she was asleep on a train has avoided jail, despite being found guilty of voyeurism.

The driver, Paolo Barone, was on his way home from a shift in September 2022 when he saw that the woman, 51, had fallen asleep on a train travelling from London Blackfriars to St Albans in Hertfordshire.

Throughout the 45-minute journey, while dressed in his work uniform, he repeatedly took photographs of the “sleeping and vulnerable” female passenger.

In what police later described as a “hideous act”, when the woman woke up and prepared to leave the train at St Albans, he then positioned his phone so that it was directed up her skirt and took yet more photos.

Upskirting became a specific criminal offence five years ago and is punishable by up to two years in prison.

After Barone’s employer identified him, he was arrested at his home and three phones and a computer were seized by police. One of the phones was found to contain five images of the woman, who was “horrified” to learn what he had done.

Barone was found guilty of voyeurism and sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 12 months. He will also be required to complete a 55-hour rehabilitation activity and sign the sex offender register for seven years.

The investigating officer, detective constable Daryl Keogh, said: “Wearing his work uniform meant Barone was in a position of trust when he committed this vile and disgusting violation. Seeing the woman was sleeping and vulnerable, he took the opportunity, not to watch out for her, but to commit this hideous act.

“The woman was horrified when she learned what had happened as she slept. We will stop at nothing to deter, pursue, arrest and bring sex offenders on the railway network to justice.

“Every report is important. See it or experience it, you can report anything that makes you uncomfortable. We urge everyone to save 61016 to their phones and download the Railway Guardian app before you travel so you can discreetly get in touch with us if you need us.”

Jean Cockerill, people director for Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We were shocked and appalled to learn about this incident. As soon as we were made aware, we followed our internal procedures, which included suspending the individual as soon as he was identified.

“We hold our colleagues to the highest standards of conduct and this type of behaviour will never be tolerated.

“We thank the person for their courage in coming forward and reporting this crime, and we encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses this type of behaviour on the railway to report it to the British Transport police.”

PA Media contributed to this report.