Man jailed after sexually assaulting two women on a flight to Manchester

A man who sexually assaulted two women on a plane from Toronto to Manchester was sentenced at Manchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.  

Jagtar Singh Sandhu, 55, from Wolverhampton, assaulted the women on an overnight flight from Monday 15 to Tuesday 16 August 2016.

Sandhu, sitting behind two women, began harassing them, relentlessly asking them questions including what films they were watching and where they were from. 

After making several requests to sit next to them, Sandhu finally attempted to unbuckle one of the women’s safety belts. 

Both women fell asleep during the flight, only to be woken a short time later to Sandhu sexually assaulting them both. The women were able to push the attacker away, shouting at him to raise attention. 

Sandhu was arrested the following week and taken to Cheadle Heath Police Station where he denied sexually assaulting the women. 

He was sentenced yesterday, Wednesday 5 April, to one year in prison and will remain on the Sexual Offenders’ Register for 10 years. 

Detective constable Andy Kettle of GMP’s Manchester Airport Team, said: “The two women were extremely petrified after Sandhu so brazenly assaulted them in a confined space with nowhere for them to escape him.

“Despite denying attacking the women as they slept, Sandhu was found guilty at an earlier hearing and was today jailed for his disturbing actions that night.”

Greater Manchester is nationally recognised as a model of good practice in terms of support services available to victims. 
 

• If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available. 
   
• You can call Greater Manchester Police on 101, or alternatively people can refer themselves to St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre on 0161 276 6515, whether or not you want make a police report.
   
• St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them via Greater Manchester Police, or as a self-referral.
   
• Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential support service run by women for women and girls who have been raped or sexually abused. Confidential helpline: 0161 273 4500. Black and Minority Ethnic helpline: 0161 273 4514.
   
• Survivors Manchester offers support and counselling for adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape, regardless of when the event happened. Contact 07919 246 267.