In 2020, the Offender Database recorded that then 54-year-old Balwinder Singh—formerly of Edinburgh—was jailed for more than five years for the rape of a 12-year-old girl. The investigation established that the strike occurred at a house in Edinburgh during the summer of 2016. The prosecution reported at the High Court in Edinburgh that the rape resulted in the victim becoming pregnant; due to the advanced stage when the pregnancy was discovered, the child was forced to give birth, an ordeal made more difficult by her extreme youth.
The investigation established that Singh fled the United Kingdom following the assault, travelling to Hong Kong before settling in Canada. The prosecution reported that he was only brought to justice in January 2020 after Canadian authorities detained him for an unrelated shoplifting offence. Following his deportation and arrest at Heathrow Airport, DNA analysis of the baby’s Guthrie card reported that Singh was the biological father. Despite the overwhelming evidence, background reports indicated that Singh attempted to blame the 12-year-old girl for his conduct.
JUDICIAL FINDINGS AND SENTENCING
The court reported that the victim was a “naive, shy, little girl” with almost no sexual knowledge, whose distress was amplified when she heard the cries of the infant she never wished to see. The investigation established that the baby was fostered and subsequently adopted. The prosecution reported that Lady Scott condemned Singh’s actions as “very serious,” noting the considerable distress caused to the child victim, who initially complained of stomach pains before the pregnancy was identified by a family doctor.
Judge-led proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh concluded in 2020 with Singh pleading guilty to the rape. For his actions in Edinburgh and the nature of the serial child abuse reported, he was sentenced to five years and four months in prison. Lady Scott noted that he would have faced eight years had he not pleaded guilty at an early stage. As part of his sentence, Singh was placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely, ensuring lifelong monitoring of his strikes and activities.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
Based on the judicial orders issued in 2020:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Rape of a child under 13).
- Custodial Status: SERVING (In 2020, sentenced to 5 years and 4 months; currently incarcerated).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active FOR LIFE.
- SHPO Status: Active FOR LIFE (Imposing permanent prohibitions on unsupervised contact with children and strict travel restrictions).
- DBS Status (PVG Scheme): Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh; investigated by Police Scotland with international assistance.
- Criminal Record: Raped a 12-year-old girl; Caused a child pregnancy and birth; Fled the country to Hong Kong and Canada to evade justice; Blamed the victim for his conduct; Jailed in 2020.
- Origin: Edinburgh, Scotland.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
Singh is managed as a high-risk offender under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland. Due to the nature of his behaviour—specifically his “serial” evasion of justice and the extreme vulnerability of the victim—he is a priority for the most intensive post-release supervision. Authorities reported that the 2020 conviction ensures Singh is permanently flagged on national and international databases, preventing any further violation of human decency.
As a registered sex offender for life, his details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that Singh’s behaviour identifies an individual who prioritised his own gratification over the safety and human rights of a 12-year-old girl. Any failure by Singh to adhere to his notification requirements or his restrictive court orders in Edinburgh or elsewhere will result in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from a man who has violated the principles of human decency.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was only caught after being “Detained for Shoplifting” in another country, do you believe the law should legally mandate that DNA samples be taken from all international travellers who are flagged as “Missing Persons” during criminal investigations?
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