WHEN two men came across a young escort who had become stranded in Leamington, they lured her back to their flat where they took turns to rape her.
Sandeep Kumar and Jaskaran Ghuman, both of Clarendon Avenue, claimed their sexual activity with the 18-year-old had been with her consent.
But a jury at Warwick Crown Court rejected this and convicted Kumar, 28, of two charges of rape and Ghuman, 23, of one charge.
Ghuman was jailed for eight years, while Khumar, who was tried in his absence after absconding while on bail and has still not been caught, was jailed for ten years.
And Judge Alan Parker said: “It is believed he is on the Indian sub-continent, and steps will have to be taken to extradite him to the UK to begin serving his sentence.”
Outlining the case, he said that the victim ‘worked as an escort in circumstances where sometimes she offered sexual services for money.’
On the evening of the rapes the young woman, who used social media to attract custom, had travelled to Leamington from her home in Northamptonshire, by taxi.
But the man who had booked her and paid for the taxi, and with whom she expected to spend the night, backed out of their arrangement and left her stranded in Leamington.
With no money to get home, she was standing outside the Regent Hotel around 10.30pm when Ghuman and Kumar passed her.
It was apparent she was in some distress, and Ghuman approached her and spoke to her before being joined by Kumar.
They offered to help, suggested they go for a drink and try to find a way to get her home.
When they got to Clarendon Avenue, Kumar went inside with her overnight bag, which he had been carrying for her, and she and Ghuman followed him in.
Once inside, Kumar left the room and Ghuman raped her before the two men, who the court heard worked for the same firm and were of previous good character, swapped places.
Balbir Singh, for Kumar, argued their victim could not be described as vulnerable because ‘she had chosen to enter into employment whereby she would charge money for sex’ but that was rejected by Judge Parker.
In a separate hearing Ghuman was sentenced via a video link with HMP Hewell, where he had been remanded in custody.
Judge Parker told Ghuman: “She was a very vulnerable young woman. You made her believe you would look after her and that no harm would come to her; but she was taken back to your home where you raped her.
“I am satisfied this was planned, and that you and your co-defendant acted together. I am told you’re sorry, and not merely sorry for yourself.
“Genuine remorse counts for a great deal, but I have to say your remorse has come far too late.”
Jaskaran Ghuman – jailed for eight years. (s)
