Indian-origin Gagandeep Singh has been sentenced to 34 years in prison in the United Kingdom after being convicted of kidnapping, assault and rape of a woman in London.The 34-year-old man was found guilty of rape, kidnapping, false imprisonment and two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent following a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court in February. He was sentenced on Friday and will face 28 years in custody followed by a six-year extended license period under strict restrictions. Unless he has completed at least 18 years of his custody period, he cannot be considered for parole and will be deported after completing his sentence.According to the Metropolitan Police, the case began in June 2024 when a 24-year-old woman became suspicious after she was asked to carry a suitcase full of unknown items from Thailand to the UK. After she refused, masked men allegedly forced her into a car upon arrival at Birmingham Airport and drove her to a house in Hanwell, west London.The court heard that she was tortured for a long time by Singh and raped twice. The abuse lasted more than a day and included punching, beating, stripping, whipping and burning, she was eventually released and warned not to tell anyone.Investigators said the woman was initially reluctant to disclose the full extent of the abuse due to the trauma she suffered and fear for her safety. However, with the support of her mother and specialist police officers, she later provided a full account of what had happened.Detective Constable Sitara Abdul, who led the investigation, praised the victim for her courage in seeking justice.“The brutality that the victim suffered in this case is unimaginable. “She has shown great bravery in coming forward and helping us ensure that her attacker is brought to justice. “She feared for her life because of the brutal level of control,” Abdul said.“Threats were made to try to silence him, but the support of his mother and the diligent care shown by the officers investigating his case meant that we were able to capture and charge an extremely dangerous individual,” he said.Abdul said the victim’s determination throughout the investigation and trial was remarkable.“We want to thank them for that trust and for the patience, bravery and determination they have shown during this investigation and subsequent trial. “Their courage in the face of such horrific crimes is testament to their extremely impressive strength and resilience,” he said.A significant breakthrough in the case came when the victim’s mother preserved the clothes that her daughter was wearing at the time of the attack. Later forensic investigation revealed a DNA match linking Singh to the crimes.In a statement released through police, the victim said she was initially afraid to contact authorities.She said, “I never wanted to contact the police. It seemed difficult. I was shocked to think that if I did, I could put myself and the people around me in danger.”He credited his mother for encouraging him to seek justice.The victim said, “It was my mother who never gave up. She believed that going to the police was the right thing to do. She kept my clothes as evidence and also saved all my doctor’s notes. She said that she could not rest knowing that they could do the same to other people.”Reflecting on her experience, she said: “For anyone who has experienced sexual or other abuse, please remember this: We are not the ones who should be ashamed. We survive, and we live again.”The victim’s mother also praised the Metropolitan Police for continuing with the investigation despite her daughter’s initial reluctance.“When I contacted the Metropolitan Police, they responded with professionalism and sensitivity and reassured me that I could also report it as a third party,” she said.He said, “As a family, we are grateful for all the support provided. His actions have given us a sense of closure, and we are reassured that a dangerous individual has now been taken off the streets.”