A woman who was kidnapped, raped and tortured at a house in West London has been praised by the Metropolitan Police for her "immense courage" in coming forward to report the crime. Her attacker, Gagandeep Singh, 34, from Wandsworth, south London, was sentenced to 34 years in prison on Friday, June 12, following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
Details of the Attack
The court heard that the victim, a 24-year-old woman, was asked to deliver a suitcase containing unknown items while traveling from Thailand back to the UK in June 2024. When she refused, she was bundled into a car by masked men upon arrival at Birmingham Airport and driven to a house in Hanwell, West London. There, she was subjected to over 24 hours of torture, including being punched, beaten, stripped, whipped, burnt, and raped on two occasions by Singh and other men. She was eventually released but threatened not to tell anyone.
Victim's Statement
In a statement, the woman said: "I never wanted to contact the police. It felt daunting. I was left thinking that if I did, I could be putting myself and the people around me in danger." She credited her mother for insisting on reporting the crime and preserving evidence, including her clothes and doctor's notes. "She said she couldn’t rest knowing they could be doing this to other people," the victim added.
She also shared a message for other survivors: "To anyone who has experienced abuse, sexual or otherwise, please remember this: we are not the ones who should carry shame. We survive, and we go on to live again."
Investigation and Sentence
Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, from the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, led the investigation. She praised the victim's bravery, noting that the woman had kept her clothing from the attack, which yielded a one-in-a-million DNA match to Singh. Singh, who was already in prison on remand for an unrelated offence, answered "no comment" to all questions but was convicted based on the DNA evidence and the victim's testimony.
Singh was sentenced to 34 years in prison, with no parole eligibility for at least 18 years, followed by a six-year extended licence period. After his release, he will be deported with no right of re-entry.
DC Abdul said: "The brutality of what the victim in this case faced is unimaginable. She has shown immense bravery in coming forward and helping us ensure her attacker faces justice."
