Navjot Singh, aged 25, formerly of Whitehaven, Cumbria, has been sentenced to five and a half years’ imprisonment in his absence at Carlisle Crown Court after absconding from justice during proceedings for the rape of an 18-year-old woman in a churchyard.
The offence took place following a night out in Workington in 2023. The court heard that Singh encountered the young woman and attempted to lead her away. Although the victim repeatedly stated that she did not wish to accompany him, Singh physically dragged her away from the safety of the town centre and forced her into the grounds of a nearby churchyard. Despite her vocal protests and distress, Singh subjected her to a serious sexual assault.
Under UK legislation, all victims of sexual offences are protected by lifelong statutory anonymity.
Following the attack, closed-circuit television cameras monitored Singh fleeing the scene on foot and attempting to evade detection by crouching and concealing himself behind parked motor vehicles. In remarks during sentencing, Judge David Pugh noted that Singh’s behaviour immediately after the assault demonstrated clear awareness of the criminality of his conduct.
Singh failed to attend Carlisle Crown Court for the duration of his trial and remained absent when the proceedings concluded. The jury evaluated the prosecution’s evidence and returned a unanimous verdict finding him guilty of rape.
A personal impact statement submitted by the survivor detailed the enduring psychological harm caused by the incident, outlining ongoing struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic sleep disruption, nightmares, and a profound loss of personal independence and confidence when entering public spaces.
Passing sentence, Judge Pugh imposed an immediate custodial term of five and a half years. Alongside the prison sentence, the court made Singh subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and directed that he comply with statutory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register for life. An active bench warrant remains in effect for Singh’s arrest, and law enforcement agencies are continuing enquiries to trace and detain him so he can begin serving his custodial term.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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