Man Jailed for Kidnapping and Raping Woman in Hanwell

Victim praised for bravery in helping secure conviction

Gagandeep Singh. Picture: Met Police

A man who kidnapped, tortured and repeatedly raped a woman at a house in Hanwell has been jailed for 34 years, after detectives praised the “immense bravery” of the victim whose evidence helped secure his conviction.

Gagandeep Singh, 34, of Heathfield Road, Wandsworth, was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday 12 June. He was found guilty in February of two counts of rape, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and kidnap.

Singh will serve 28 years in custody followed by a six -year extended licence period. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least two -thirds of the custodial term, and will be deported after completing his sentence.

The court heard that the victim, a 24-year-old woman, became suspicious after being asked to transport a suitcase containing unknown items from Thailand to the UK in June 2024. When she refused, she was abducted on arrival at Birmingham Airport by masked men, driven to London, and taken to a house in Hanwell, where she was subjected to more than a day of brutal torture.

Singh was among those who assaulted her, and went on to rape her twice. The victim was beaten, stripped, whipped, burnt and threatened with further violence if she told anyone what had happened.

Despite her ordeal, she was eventually released. Traumatised and fearful, she initially struggled to disclose the full extent of the attack. Her mother made a third -party report to police, and over the following weeks — supported by specialist female officers — the victim slowly built the confidence to give a full account.

Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, from the Met’s North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit, led the investigation. She said: “The brutality of what the victim 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.”

Crucially, the clothing the victim had been wearing during the kidnap was preserved by her mother and later submitted for forensic testing. It produced a one -in -a -million DNA match to Singh, who was already in custody on remand for an unrelated offence. He refused to answer questions in interview, but the forensic evidence and the victim ’s testimony were enough to secure charges.

In a statement, the victim said she had feared going to the police, worried she might put herself or others in danger. “At the time, I felt a deep sense of shame,” she said. “My friends and family supported me throughout everything. They made sure I never lost the strength to keep going.”

She urged other survivors not to blame themselves: “Please remember this: we are not the ones who should carry shame. We survive, and we go on to live again.”

Her mother, who pushed for the case to be investigated even when her daughter felt unable to proceed, thanked the officers involved. “Their actions have given us a sense of closure, and we are reassured that a dangerous individual has now been removed from the streets,” she said.

Detectives say Singh posed a significant risk to the public and that the victim’s courage was central to bringing him to justice.

The Met continues to encourage anyone affected by sexual violence to seek support and report concerns in confidence.