The clothes a 24-year-old woman wore during a harrowing 24-hour ordeal of rape and torture provided the crucial DNA link that led police to her attacker, a south London man who has now been jailed for 34 years.
Gagandeep Singh, 34, of Wandsworth, was sentenced on Friday, June 12, at Isleworth Crown Court after being convicted in February of two counts of rape, false imprisonment, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and kidnap. The Metropolitan Police described the case as one of unimaginable brutality.
The attack began in June 2024, when the victim was asked to deliver a suitcase containing unknown items while travelling from Thailand back to the UK. She refused. When she arrived at Birmingham Airport, she was bundled into a car by masked men and driven to a house in Hanwell, west London.
Once inside, she was subjected to systematic torture: punched in the face, beaten, stripped, whipped, burned, and raped on two occasions. After more than 24 hours, her captors released her, warning her not to tell anyone what had happened.
In the hours after her release, the woman told her mother she had been attacked but could not bring herself to disclose the full extent of her ordeal. Her mother made a third-party report to the police, but the victim initially felt unable to take it further.
It took around six weeks of support from her mother and specialist officers before she felt strong enough to provide a full account. Her mother had kept aside the clothing the victim wore during the attack, saving it as evidence alongside medical notes. “It was my mum who never gave up. She believed going to the police was the right thing to do,” the victim said. “She said she couldn’t rest knowing they could be doing this to other people.”
The preserved clothing was submitted for forensic examination by Detective Constable Seetara Abdul, who led the investigation for the Met’s North West Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit. The analysis revealed a “one in a million” positive DNA match to Singh. By this point, Singh was already in prison on remand for an unrelated offence.
When arrested and interviewed, Singh answered “no comment” to all questions. But the DNA evidence, combined with the victim’s testimony, was enough to secure charges and a conviction.
DC Abdul praised the woman’s “immense bravery” in coming forward. “The cruelty and level of control left her fearing for her life,” she said. “Threats were made to try and silence her, but the support of her mum and the diligent care shown by the officers investigating her case meant we were able to apprehend and charge an extremely dangerous individual.”
A team of supportive female officers prioritised engagement that moved at the victim’s pace, allowing her time to trust them and the space to tell her story. The Met Police acknowledged how “difficult and daunting” it can be for rape victims to come forward.
The victim herself 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. At the time, I felt a deep sense of shame. I have always been someone who stands firm in my decisions, with a strong sense of self, and I didn’t want to lose that.”
She added: “My friends and family supported me throughout everything. They made sure I never lost the strength to keep going, and for that I am truly grateful. 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.”
Sentence and deportation
Singh’s sentence comprises 28 years in custody followed by a six‑year extended licence period. He will not be considered for parole until he has served at least 18 years. Upon release, he will be deported from the UK with no right of re‑entry.
Separately, a man named Gagandeep Singh Bakshi was charged in Canada in January 2025 over a December 2024 shooting incident. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that this is a different individual and unrelated to the London case.
