A British rapist, Gagandeep Gulati, who targeted a young woman during an evening outing has been incarcerated after being captured on CCTV, attributed to a detective’s tenacity.
In September of the previous year, Gagandeep Gulati encountered his victim solitary in Jubilee Square, Leicester.
He confronted her and compelled her to accompany him to Castle Gardens, where he perpetrated rape and sexual assault against her. He recorded the encounter on his phone and transmitted portions to others.
An inquiry initiated by detectives from Signal, the specialised unit for rape and serious sexual violence investigations, commenced.
During a week, Detective Constable Matt Smith engaged in the meticulous endeavour of locating the victim on CCTV. Ultimately, film was discovered depicting the movements of 20-year-old Gagandeep Gulati, however his identity remained unidentified.
Upon visiting the lodging where Gagandeep Gulati resided to conduct further enquiries, DC Smith promptly identified him from the tape and apprehended him.
DC Smith worked solidly to review this evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service in order to negate any attempt by the defence to use the CCTV and myths and stereotypes to discredit the victim.
In interview, he tried to claim that he had been sexually assaulted by the victim and that she was the one who raped him. However, he was charged with one count of rape, one count of assault by penetration, one count of sexual assault and one count of sharing an intimate film.
On Friday (28 March), following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, Gagandeep Gulati – formerly of Peacock Lane, Leicester – was found guilty of all offences and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment. He was also placed on the sex offender register for life.
DC Smith said: “Even during cross examination Gulati tried to claim that the victim had instigated the sexual activity and tried to blame her for the offence.
“He’s shown no remorse for his actions, which was to deliberately target a young woman while she was alone for his own sexual gratification.
“The victim has shown immense bravery by reliving her ordeal through the trial and I hope this outcome will provide a sense of closure and allow her to move on with her life.”
- There are a number of different agencies who are able to offer independent help and support to victims of sexual offences in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- Further information on these services and details on who to contact if you have been a victim of a sexual offence can be found by visiting https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/advice/rape-sexual-assault-and-other-sexual-offences
- If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you can also contact Juniper Lodge – a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) – by phoning 0116 273 3330 or visiting https://juniperlodge.org.uk/
- You can also find your nearest SARC by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-a-rape-and-sexual-assault-referral-centre
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.