Gagandeep Singh was jailed for 34 years (Image: Metropolitan Police handout)
A 24-year-old woman was abducted by masked men after landing at Birmingham Airport, driven to London and subjected to more than a day of torture and rape in a house in Hanwell, a court has heard. Gagandeep Singh, 34, of Heathfield Road, Wandsworth, was sentenced to 34 years in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of two counts of rape, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and kidnap.
The sentence comprises 28 years in custody and a six-year extended licence period. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 18 years and will be deported upon release with no right of re-entry. The court was told the woman had become suspicious when asked to bring a suitcase containing unknown items from Thailand back to the UK in June 2024. She refused.
Upon her arrival at Birmingham Airport, she was bundled into a car by masked men and driven to London. She was taken to a property in Hanwell where she endured prolonged torture, including being punched in the face, beaten, stripped, whipped and burnt. Singh raped her on two separate occasions.
Traumatised by the ordeal, the victim was initially reluctant to disclose the full extent of the attack to police. Supported by her mother and specialist Metropolitan Police officers, she gradually found the strength to pursue justice.
Detectives praised her courage in giving evidence, which proved crucial in securing Singh’s conviction in February.
After her release, the victim was threatened and warned not to speak about what had happened. In the hours following her ordeal, she told her mother she had been attacked but could not initially bring herself to reveal the complete details.
Her mother made a third-party report to the police, but the victim did not feel able to proceed further at that stage.
The moment of Gagandeep Singh’s arrest (Image: Metropolitan Police)
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It took about six weeks before she felt strong enough, with support from her family and officers, to provide a full account. Crucially, the clothing she had been wearing during the kidnapping had been preserved at home.
Forensic examination of the garments yielded a one-in-a-million DNA match linking Singh to the crime. At the time, he was already in prison on remand for an unrelated matter. He was arrested, interviewed, and answered “no comment” to all questions, but the combination of the DNA evidence and the victim’s testimony led to charges.
Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, from the Met’s North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, who led the investigation, said: “The brutality of what the victim faced is unimaginable. She has shown immense bravery in coming forward.
“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 meant we were able to apprehend and charge an extremely dangerous individual.”
DC Abdul highlighted the role of a team of female officers who worked at the victim’s pace. She added: “We know how difficult it can be for women who have been the victim of this sort of traumatising attack to come forward.”
In a victim personal 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 paid tribute to her mother, who “never gave up” and preserved key evidence including clothing and medical notes. She said: “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,” she said.
Her mother thanked the investigating officers, including DC Abdul, PC Grace Wilson and PC Destoni Peters, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and support services. She explained: “As a family, we are grateful for all the support provided. Their actions have given us a sense of closure, and we are reassured that a dangerous individual has now been removed from the streets.”
The case comes as the Metropolitan Police has significantly strengthened its response to violence against women and girls. More than 23,000 officers and staff have received specialist training, supported by enhanced victim services.
Recent figures show arrests and charges for rape offences have increased by 116 % compared with the previous year, positioning the Met as the force with the highest detection and charge rate for rape suspects.
