Indian gets 9 years in jail for raping teenager in London

A British court has sentenced a 23-year-old Indian man to nine years in prison for raping a teenage girl in April last year.

The Isleworth Crown Court in London, which found Jagdeep Chahal guilty on September 25, 2009 following a two-week trial, delivered its judgement yesterday. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The court heard how Chahal had followed his 18-year-old victim from a bus stop on the Uxbridge Road at 0200 hours on April 8, 2009.

The victim, suspicious of Chahal, slowed down, to force him to pass her. However, he continued to follow her on the other side of the road until he pounced, forcing his hand into her mouth as she screamed out and dragging her into an alleyway.

Chahal then went on to threaten the victim and raped her. A passer-by heard the victim's screams and rang police who came to the scene within minutes.

The arrival of the officers disturbed Chahal who stopped the assault and attempted to leave the scene. As officers shone torches down the alleyway, they spotted Chahal climbing over a wall.

He was immediately detained whilst other officers went to the aid of the victim.

Chahal was subsequently charged with rape on April 9 and remanded into custody.