- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 05 Jul 2025 03:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
London Rape Case: Navroop Singh, a 24-year-old Indian-origin man, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a child and attempting to rape a woman in two different incidents in west London last year. The Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (July 4) sentenced Singh to a life term with a minimum of 14 years in prison. The Metropolitan Police called the conviction a significant result of a "significant" investigation where forensics, CCTV evidence, and testimony were used.
Met Police opened the investigation following a report of an attempted rape of a girl in her 20s near the entrance of Southall Park in Ealing on October 13, 2024. Two off-duty officers, who were there by coincidence, assisted the victim to the nearby police station and offered vital support. Scotland Yard reported that Singh had spent the early morning hours sitting on a park bench, awaiting a lone victim. He used an imitation gun, which he had purchased and constructed for himself, to threaten the woman. As the inquiry continued, a second attack shook the community when a girl younger than 13 was raped in Hayes End Park, Hillingdon, on October 23, 2024. The two crimes were immediately connected by detectives, and resources were stepped up to find the suspect.
Police officers collected hours of CCTV footage, obtained critical forensic evidence, and conducted house-to-house inquiries. Leaflets were also distributed around Singh's residential address to call for witnesses, with more patrols also stationed in the area. Singh, of Mellow Lane East, Hillingdon, was arrested on 27 October 2024. He admitted three severe charges, rape of a girl under 13, assault of a girl under 13 by penetration, and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offense. He was convicted after a four-day trial of the attempted rape of a woman and another firearm offense.
Acting Chief Superintendent Sean Lynch, who is in charge of policing in the West Area, welcomed the bravery of the victims and their families. "I would like to commend the resilience of the victim-survivors and thank them for their unshakeable courage in reporting these horrific events to us," Lynch said in a statement.
"Today's conviction is a testament to the rigorous investigation conducted by the officers, which has led to the identification of a violent sex offender and, undoubtedly, prevented further harm. We are working continuously to address violence towards women and girls, and I hope the community will take comfort in our action to bring this predator to justice," he further added. The Met Police re-emphasised that combating violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an absolute priority, with increased specialist teams, new training, and fresh approaches such as counter-terror techniques to trace out risky predators.
