An Indian tourist has been jailed for one year after he sexually assaulted a woman on a plane while other passengers around slept during a flight from Mumbai to Manchester.
35-year-old Hardeep Singh sat next to a woman in her 20s and tried to engage her in conversation. The female passenger started to feel uncomfortable as his English was beyond comprehension.
As the lights turned off most of the passengers slept, including the woman, who woke up to Singh sexually assaulting her.
The Indian tourist was jailed for one year at Minshull Street Crown Court and will be deported back to his country after he finishes his sentence.
The court heard that when the woman got up to use the toilet, Singh didn’t want to move aside, forcing her to squeeze herself to the aisle.
When the lights went off, the victim and other passengers went to sleep under the blankets provided. She then woke up to him assaulting her. She pushed him away but he forced his hands under her clothes while trying to kiss her.
The terrified passenger couldn’t scream for help – this happens during such horrible situations.
She told him to stop but Singh hooked her legs to pin her down. The woman felt vulnerable as everyone else was asleep and there was no cabin crew around.
The assault lasted for 15 minutes and when she managed to break free, she reported the Indian tourist to a cabin crew.
Singh was moved away from her and the crew contacted police. Cops were waiting for him when they got off the plane at Manchester Airport.
He was arrested on suspicion of assault. Detective Constable Catherin Evans said: “From the outset of the flight, Singh’s behaviour was despicable.
“After checking the woman was unaccompanied, he began to invade her personal space, pestering her and making unwanted physical contact, despite the passenger making it clear she did not want to engage him in conversation.
“Waiting until the woman and surrounding passengers were asleep, Singh subjected the woman to a prolonged sexual assault, forcibly restraining her when she tried to move away.
“Numbed with fear, it was only after she summoned the strength to overpower him that she was able to run away and raise the alarm.
“Thanks to the swift actions of our officers at Manchester Airport, justice was waiting for Singh as soon as he landed.
“We’re pleased with today’s sentence and hope the woman can move forward knowing that he’s behind bars.
“We hope the courage of this woman and this positive court result encourages other victims to come forward and report incidents of sexual assault to police.”
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