A woman has been praised by the Met Police for the "immense courage" she showed in coming forward after she was kidnapped, raped and tortured at a house in West London.
Gagandeep Singh, 34, of Wandsworth, south London, was jailed for 34 years after being convicted of two counts of rape, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and kidnap following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
Singh was sentenced in court on Friday, June 12. He won't be considered for parole until he has served at least 18 years and a six year extended licence period. After this, he will be deported with no right of re-entry.
The court heard how the victim – a 24-year-old woman – was asked to deliver a suitcase containing unknown items while travelling from Thailand back to the UK in June 2024.
She refused and when she arrived back at Birmingham Airport, she was bundled into a car and driven to London by masked men.
She was taken to a house in Hanwell, West London, where she was subjected to torture by men, including Singh, who would go on to rape her on two occasions.
The woman was tortured for more than 24 hours - including being punched in the face, beaten, stripped, whipped, burnt and raped, before being released by her captors. She was threatened and warned not to no one what had happened.
In the hours after her release, she told her mother that she had been the victim of an attack but could not bring herself to disclose the full extent of her ordeal.
Her mother made a third-party report to the police but the victim did not feel able to take it further.
It would be around six more weeks before the woman felt strong enough, supported by her mother and officers, to provide a full account.
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. She believed going to the police was the right thing to do. She kept my clothes as evidence and saved all of my doctor’s notes. She said she couldn’t rest knowing they could be doing this to other people.
"At the time, I felt a deep sense of shame. I have always been someone who stands firm in my decisions, with a strong sense of self, and I didn’t want to lose that.
"My friends and family supported me throughout everything. They made sure I never lost the strength to keep going, and for that I am truly grateful.
"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."
Crucially, the victim had kept aside the clothing she had been wearing when she was kidnapped so it could be sent for forensic examination. This was submitted for examination by DC Abdul and it revealed a one in a million positive DNA match for Singh who by that point was in prison on remand for an unrelated offence.
Singh was arrested and interviewed. He answered no comment to all questions but the evidence against him, not least the DNA match and the victim’s testimony, was enough to secure charges.
Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, from the North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, who led the investigation 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. The cruel level of control left her fearing for her life.
"Threats were made to try and silence her, but the support of her mum and the diligent care shown by the officers investigating her case meant we were able to apprehend and charge an extremely dangerous individual."
The Met Police says it recognises how "difficult and daunting" it can be for rape victims to come forward and give information to secure a conviction.
DC Abdul added: "In this case, a team of supportive female officers focused on prioritising engagement that moved at the victim’s pace, allowing her the time to begin to trust the officers and giving her the space to tell her story.
“We want to thank her for that trust and for the patience, bravery and determination she has shown throughout this investigation and the trial that followed.
"Her courage in the face of such awful crimes is a testament to her hugely impressive strength and resilience."