A man preyed on teens in school uniform, taking advantage of packed MRT trains to molest them.

The court heard that Bangladeshi construction worker Ray Chandan, 37, usually struck between Yishun and Khatib stations. The train would be more crowded at this stretch - making it easier for him to stand close to his victims.

He was jailed for a year yesterday after pleading guilty to two counts of outrage of modesty. A third count of molestation involving a girl, 15, was taken into consideration.

On May 11, he boarded the train at Sembawang station at 6.50am with a 17-year-old. She was busy with her cellphone, and he found his chance.He touched her private parts over her clothes and did not stop even after she stepped back.

The girl snapped his photo before alighting at Yio Chu Kang station. She later lodged a police report.

Ray also molested a 13-year-old girl on July 12. He boarded the train at Sembawang station at about 6.35am, stood close to his victim, and put his hand on her pelvis.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Gail Wong said: "The second victim tried to push the accused's hands away, but the accused continued to press his hand there. The second victim moved slightly to the right, but the accused still kept his hand there." She said he moved his hand only when she was about to alight at Yishun station.

The girl reported the incident to her teacher, and then the police.

DPP Wong urged District Judge Jasvender Kaur to jail the Bangladeshi for a year, saying: "The offences took place on the MRT, and such offences are a threat to public safety."