A 68-year-old north-west London rabbi who exploited his position of trust as a religious leader and counsellor to sexually assault a woman in her 20s has been convicted of two counts of sexual assault at Harrow Crown Court after Metropolitan Police detectives pursued allegations first aired on international television.
Aaron “Chaim” Halpern, aged 68 (born 22 June 1958) and residing at Bridge Lane, Golders Green, north-west London, was found guilty by a jury on Thursday 12 November 2026 following a criminal trial at Harrow Crown Court.
The Metropolitan Police investigation was launched in November 2022 after detectives became aware of allegations of sexual assault against Halpern that had been broadcast on Israeli television. During the programme, an anonymous woman alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by Halpern between June and July 2022 at a synagogue and a residential address in Golders Green.
Immediately recognising the gravity of the allegations, Met detectives worked closely with charities and community partners in both the United Kingdom and Israel to establish a clear, supportive pathway for the complainant to engage with officers, despite her initial reluctance to report what had happened to her.
Through sustained outreach and support, detectives succeeded in building the survivor’s trust and confidence. In February 2023, the woman—who was in her 20s at the time of the offending—identified herself to officers in London and provided a video-recorded interview setting out a full account of the assaults, enabling detectives to launch a formal criminal investigation.
Extensive enquiries followed, including gathering witness evidence and reviewing telephone communications. This crucial investigative work demonstrated that Halpern had abused the position of trust he held as a religious leader and counsellor in order to sexually assault the survivor, who continued to receive dedicated support from specialist officers throughout proceedings.
Halpern was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on Thursday 9 March 2023 and again on Thursday 21 March 2024 as complex enquiries progressed, before being formally charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Under the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992, the female survivor in this case is protected by mandatory, lifelong statutory anonymity from the moment an allegation is made. Any publication, broadcast, or public dissemination of information capable of leading to her identification is strictly prohibited under UK law.
Following the jury’s guilty verdicts on Thursday 12 November 2026, Halpern is scheduled to return to Harrow Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday 12 January 2027.
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