Indian man jailed for 18 years for sexually assaulting women in UK
Raghu, who ran two massage parlors on Holloway Road and High Road, allegedly advertised on a jobs app for women to work at the salon, the court heard.
London: A 50-year-old masseur of Indian descent has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting four women by offering them jobs at his massage parlor in London.
Raghu Singamaneni of London Road, Luton, was sentenced on Friday by Wood Green Crown Court following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
Raghu was unanimously found guilty on March 31 following a trial in the same court for rape and assault involving four victims, including girls aged 17 to 23.
“This man used his position of authority to carry out a series of sexual assaults on young women. Many of these women were lured by the hope of employment, but were then subjected to the most horrific sexual assaults,” said Detective Hussain Sayem, who led the investigation.
Raghu, who ran two massage parlors on Holloway Road and High Road, allegedly advertised on a jobs app for women to work at the salon, the court heard.
He would then make arrangements to meet the women, get them drunk and carry out sexual assaults.
The first victim, a 17-year-old who reported the incident to the police, had made an appointment with Raghu for questioning.
She told the police that she met Raghu in the saloon and that he gave her a glass of prosecco (wine), which made her intoxicated and nauseated.
Raghu then took her to a hotel where he carried out the attack, which was an attempt to rape the woman and committed an assault, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Just over two weeks after the incident, the victim lodged a complaint with Tottenham Police Station and Raghu was arrested and released for investigation while further inquiries are made.
A second offense occurred at the High Road saloon when Raghu asked a 19-year-old for a massage and raped her after forcing her to drink vodka.
An investigation revealed that another crime took place when the victim, a 23-year-old woman, made an appointment with Raghu after answering a job offer.
She arranged to meet him at a hotel in Golders Green – when they entered the hotel room, Raghu showered her with alcohol and later violently raped her.
The latest violation was reported by a 17-year-old who applied for a job as a masseur and had talked to a woman about a job interview.
The woman told her to go to the Queens Avenue hotel where she would meet someone for a trial massage.
She met Raghu at the location and they entered a hotel room together before he offered her drinks and drugs which she accepted, and was later raped by Raghu.
She then left the hotel and called a friend who then called the police.
Raghu was arrested after detectives collected enough evidence from the women and subsequently convicted him of three counts of rape; two counts of assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape.
“We know that Singamaneni is a serial killer and it is quite possible that he has attacked other women who felt unable to come forward and report their ordeal to the police,” said Detective Constable Sayem.