A man has been sentenced to 34 years in prison for the horrific kidnapping, torture, and rape of a young woman in London. The victim, aged 24, was lured into delivering a suitcase from Thailand but refused upon arrival at Birmingham Airport in June 2024. Masked men then forced her into a car and drove her to a home in Hanwell, where she was held captive and repeatedly assaulted.
Brutal Attack and Captivity
Isleworth Crown Court heard how the victim was punched, beaten, stripped, whipped, burnt, and raped by Gagandeep Singh, 34, of Heathfield Road, Wandsworth. Singh held her for over a day, threatening her not to report the crimes. He was found guilty of two counts of rape, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and kidnap after a trial in February.
Victim's Bravery and Justice
The victim initially hesitated to report the attack but, supported by her mother and Metropolitan Police officers, she helped bring Singh to justice. Her mother preserved the clothing worn during the attack, which yielded a one-in-a-million DNA match linking Singh to the crime. Singh was already in prison on remand for an unrelated offense at the time of the match.
In a victim impact 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. It was my mum who never gave up... I felt a deep sense of shame... To anyone who has experienced abuse, sexual or otherwise, please remember this: we are not the ones who should carry shame.”
Sentence and Deportation
On June 12, Singh was sentenced to 34 years, comprising 28 years in custody and a 6-year extended licence period. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 18 years. After release, he will be deported with no right of re-entry.
Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, from the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, praised the victim: “The brutality of what the victim faced is unimaginable. She has shown immense bravery... The support of her mum and diligent police work meant we could apprehend a dangerous individual.”
