Incident at High Barnet put staff and passengers at risk
Four men from Spain who travelled to High Barnet to paint large murals on the side of London Underground trains have been sentenced after they were arrested in early July. The incident, which involved trespass across live railway lines on the Northern line, was detected from CCTV and prompted a search by British Transport Police (BTP) officers.
High Barnet Station
According to court reports, the men — Asier Dorado‑Alosete, 21; Javier Martinez‑Lopez, 30; Juan Palomino Andres‑Cabanas, 22; and Galo Adrian Romero‑Valle, 21 — entered the tracks in the early hours of Wednesday 8 July 2026 and immediately began spraying the side of a train. Staff reviewing CCTV footage alerted BTP, who launched a search of the area.
Two of the group, Romero‑Valle and Andres‑Cabanas, were found and detained nearby after fleeing the scene. Officers recovered bags containing 44 aerosol spray cans hidden in bushes. The other two men were arrested at Stansted Airport the following day as they waited to board flights out of the country, after mobile phone data indicated their departures.
Evidence and related incidents
Items seized at arrest and material downloaded from the suspects' phones provided further evidence. Police say the data linked the group to a separate incident of criminal damage to a train in Amersham on the same night. Analysis of one device also reportedly identified a child sexual abuse image.
Sentencing and orders
All four defendants admitted criminal damage, possession of articles with intent to cause damage, and trespass on the railway. The court handed down the following penalties:
- Each defendant received a five‑year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and a fine of £187.
- Romero‑Valle and Andres‑Cabanas were ordered to pay £972 compensation to Transport for London (TfL).
- Martinez‑Lopez and Romero‑Valle received 12‑month prison sentences, suspended for 24 months.
- Dorado‑Alosete and Andres‑Cabanas were given 10‑month prison sentences, suspended for 12 months.
| Defendant | Sentence | Compensation / Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Martinez‑Lopez | 12 months, suspended 24 months | £187 fine |
| Romero‑Valle | 12 months, suspended 24 months | £187 fine; £972 to TfL |
| Dorado‑Alosete | 10 months, suspended 12 months | £187 fine |
| Andres‑Cabanas | 10 months, suspended 12 months | £187 fine; £972 to TfL |
The imposition of lengthy CBOs is intended to restrict offending behaviour in the community for an extended period. Suspended sentences mean the defendants will not serve those prison terms immediately, provided they do not breach the conditions set by the court during the suspension period.
Local impact and safety concerns
Rail trespass on live lines creates serious risk to life and disrupts services for passengers who use Barnet stations. The recovery and clean‑up of damaged trains also carries costs for TfL and may contribute to delays. The case highlights how CCTV monitoring and mobile‑data analysis were used by police to locate suspects and establish links to other offences.
Transport and policing agencies routinely warn that trespassing on railway infrastructure is dangerous and illegal. The sentences handed down in this case reflect both the risk posed by entering live tracks and the deliberate nature of the damage to public transport assets.
Further updates on disruption or prosecutions affecting Barnet’s transport network will be reported as they become available.
