A MAN who used the internet to lure victims to Brent Cross shopping centre before sexually touching them has been sentenced.

Marios Kleopas of North Finchley used the recruiting website Gumtree to trick women into believing he was trying to employ staff for a bar he was setting up at the centre.

Kleopas would carry out interviews for the fictitious What Bar and in the course of the meeting invite the victim to smoke a cigarette in his car.

Once in the vehicle the 37-year-old would assault the woman by sexually touching her.

A police investigation began when one of the women reported Kleopas and soon after other victims were identified.

Kleopas was arrested and admitted meeting the women but denied he had touched them.

He was charged with two offences of sexual assault on women over 16-years-old which he denied throughout the case.

Kleopas was found guilty by a jury at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday February 18.

He has been sentenced to a community order for three years on the Sex Offenders Programme and will be on the sexual offenders register for five years.

Detective Constable Simon North of Barnet criminal investigation department said: “This man actively targeted vulnerable women who he believed would not report his assault to police.

“We are concerned there may be other victims and I would urge anyone who has been the victim of this man, or any other sexual criminal to contact police.”

Anyone who has been affected by this crime can contact police on 0300 123 1212.