'Historic' Case Sees Man Jailed for Raping Wife

Gurwinder Kaur had died before the trial of her husband

Ravi Yadav (left). Picture: Met Police. Gurwinder Kaur (right). Picture: Southall Black Sisters/Dr Kulwant Singh

April 26, 2025

A man from Ealing has been jailed for nine years for the rape of his wife who died of cancer before the case came to court.

Jurors at Isleworth Crown Court had been convinced of the guilt of 46-year-old Ravi Yadav after hearing an audio recording made by Gurwinder Kaur of her husband attacking and raping her.

Gurwinder Kaur, who was Sikh, joined her Hindu husband in the UK in 2005. She told the Southall Black Sisters, a local domestic abuse advocacy group, that she had been pressured into marriage when she was a teenager by a man who had threatened suicide when she rejected his proposals.

After the marriage she says that the abuse by her husband escalated, and she suffered daily humiliation and the situation did not improve when the couple were living in this country. Yadav regularly threatened his wife with separation from her two children who he said would be sent back to India.

The key audio recording which led to Yadav’s conviction was made in March 2020 when he called her upstairs in their home saying he wanted to discuss financial matters. She knew that he had reneged on previous agreements and had made her totally financially dependent on him, so she decided to record the exchange not anticipating that he would proceed to rape her.

Gurwinder Kaur, died of pancreatic cancer on February 2022 aged 48 but the Crown Prosecution Service continued with the case against her husband after consultation with family members.

SBS believes that this is one of the first times in UK legal history that a rape conviction has been secured in these circumstances after the death of the victim.

The group managed to secure Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders, which prevented Yadav from contacting Gurwinder or returning to the family home which it says was vital in safeguarding both Gurwinder and her children during a critical time.

It issued a statement saying, “Over the years, she endured verbal, emotional, physical, and financial abuse. She was isolated, repeatedly threatened with the removal of her children to India, and forced to live in a volatile, terror filled home where intimidation was constant, and safety was a distant hope.”

It continues, “Despite the horrors she endured, Gurwinder showed extraordinary courage. With support from SBS, she sought and secured legal protection—determined to break free from the cycle of violence and reclaim her dignity.”

The Metropolitan Police disputes a claim by the Southall Black Sisters (SBS) that the case was only pursued after it had been pressurised not to drop it.

A Met Police spokesperson said, "The investigation was ongoing when the victim very sadly died. We did raise with family representatives the possibility that this could impact how the investigation proceeded, but were pleased that ultimately the evidence presented by us to the CPS enabled them to proceed with a prosecution which resulted in the significant sentence handed down to Yadav."

Shakila Taranum Maan, Head of Legal Affairs and Community Engagement at SBS, said, “While Gurwinder’s life was marked by extraordinary resilience in the face of relentless abuse, her legacy is one of courage and hope. Her decision to speak out, despite the risks, sends a powerful message to other women trapped in silence. We wish to acknowledge Pinder Kaur and Dr Kulwant Singh, who offered invaluable care to Gurwinder in her final months. Their compassion and leadership—alongside SBS—continue to challenge harmful community norms and demand accountability.

“This conviction must serve as a turning point. SBS calls for urgent reforms to better protect women— especially those facing multiple barriers due to race, religion, class, caste, disabilities, and immigration status. No woman should ever have to die for her truth to be believed.”
Yadav pleaded not guilty to rape and expressed no remorse but was convicted on 29 April and received his sentence on Thursday 1 May.