Rapist who claimed he was helping woman jailed
- Published
A rapist who "preyed" on his victim after he claimed he was trying to take her to a safe place has been jailed.
Jagdeep Singh, of Gaul Street in Leicester, approached a 21-year-old woman who was feeling unwell as she waited for a taxi after a night out, in the early hours of 12 January.
Later that morning the woman was reported missing before she contacted her parents and told them she had been raped by a man in a flat, police said.
Singh, 35, initially denied raping her but on the second day of his trial, on 9 July, pleaded guilty to the charge and was later sentenced to eight years in prison.
He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.
Victim's 'immense bravery'
Leicestershire Police said Singh "preyed" on the woman, who was feeling unwell, as she waited for a taxi in Western Road, Leicester.
She had phoned the ambulance service and it was during the call Singh approached her offering to help.
This was overheard by the call handler, who contacted police.
Officers were sent to the scene but they were unable to locate the victim and carried out inquiries at her home.
Her parents became concerned and reported her missing as they could not make contact.
Later in the morning, the victim made contact with her parents and was able to describe her location, which led officers to arrest Singh.
The force said he denied forcing his victim into sexual activity, saying it was consensual and he was helping her by getting her to a safe place.
Det Con Jon Mulvany, the investigating officer, said: "[Singh] preyed on a vulnerable person for his own satisfaction."
"The victim was not in a fit state to consent to anything and was clearly distressed when he came across her in the street."
He added the force was pleased the victim had been spared the "distress of reliving what happened to her" in court and praised her "immense bravery" throughout the case.
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