A 63-year-old man originally from Sri Lanka has admitted in a Swiss court that he feels an urge to grope young men, as judges in Zurich hear a case involving repeated sexual assaults against teenage boys on public trains.

The accused is charged with carrying out a series of assaults on trains traveling from Zurich’s main station toward Olten and Aarau. Prosecutors say the attacks followed a clear and deliberate pattern and went on for years, according to Blick.

During questioning, the man told the Zurich High Court that he “occasionally feels the urge to touch young men” and claimed he was now prepared to take medication to suppress his sex drive. He also said he was willing to undergo therapy, despite earlier treatments having little effect.

The defendant already has three prior convictions for similar sexual offenses and continued committing assaults while on probation. Some of the incidents occurred even after he had already been arrested and released pending trial.

According to the indictment, the man would sit next to unaccompanied teenage boys, drape his jacket over both their laps, and then grope their legs and genitals underneath the cover. Victims described freezing in shock and being unable to react due to fear and shame.

In one case involving a 16-year-old boy, judges ruled that the conduct amounted to sexual coercion, noting the large age difference and the way the victim was taken by surprise and unable to defend himself, according to Watson.ch.

A lower court previously sentenced the man to 38 months in prison, suspended in favor of inpatient treatment, and ordered a five-year expulsion from Switzerland. The defendant appealed the ruling, asking to remain in the country and arguing that treatment should replace imprisonment.

The High Court has not yet issued a final verdict. Because the offenses took place under Switzerland’s old sexual offenses law, judges are reviewing which legal framework is more favorable to the accused.