A man who used the lure of jobs at his massage parlour to rape young women across London has been sentenced following an investigation by the Met.
Raghu Singamaneni, 50 (06.09.72) of London Road, Luton, was sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday, 16 June to 18 years’ imprisonment.
He was unanimously found guilty on Friday, 31 March following a trial at the same court of rape and sexually assault involving four women.
Detective Constable Hussain Sayem, who led the investigation, said: “This man used his position of authority to carry out a string of sexual assaults on young women. Many of these women were lured by the hope of employment, but were then subjected to the most dreadful sexual assaults.
“I have no doubt that Singamaneni thought these women would never speak out against him or would never be believed. He was wrong, these women did have the courage to speak out and the jury found him guilty by a unanimous verdict.
“Some sexual predators believe they can get away with their crimes, but this case shows they cannot and will be brought to justice. Lastly, we know Singamaneni is a serial offender and it is entirely possible he has attacked other women who have not felt able to come forward and report their ordeal to police. I would urge anyone in this position to get in contact and quote Operation Sting – you will be listened to and supported by specially trained officers.”
The court heard how Singamaneni ran two massage parlours on Holloway Road, Islington and High Road, Wood Green.
He would advertise on a jobs app for women to come and work at the parlour. He would make appointments to meet the women and then carry out sexual assaults.
The first victim who reported the matter to police was 17 – she had arranged to meet Singamaneni for an interview.
She told police that she met him at the parlour and he went through the training she would need.
She again met Singamaneni at the parlour the next day and he gave her a glass of prosecco and she told police she then became so intoxicated she was sick. Singamaneni then took her to a hotel where he carried out a sexual assault, namely attempting to rape the woman and carrying out a sexual assault.
Just over two weeks later the victim made a complaint at Tottenham Police Station and Singamaneni was arrested and released under investigation while further enquiries were made.
A second offence related to a 19-year-old woman who reported an allegation of rape which occurred at her place of work on High Road, N22.
She stated that Singamaneni had asked for a massage, insisted that she drink some vodka and then raped her.
Enquiries revealed another offence occurred when the victim, a 23-year-old woman, arranged to meet Singamaneni after answering a job advert. She arranged to meet him at a hotel in Golders Green – when they entered the hotel room Singamaneni plied her with alcohol and later forcibly removed her clothing and raped her.
The last offence happened at a hotel in Queens Avenue, N10.
The victim, a 17-year-old female, applied for a job as a masseur and had spoken to a woman about an interview. The woman told her to go to the hotel here she would meet someone to have a trial massage.
She was met at the location by Singamaneni – they entered a hotel room together before he offered her drinks and drugs which she accepted. She was then raped by Singamaneni. She left the hotel and called a friend who then called police.
Detectives compiled sufficient evidence from the women and Singamaneni was arrested and subsequently convicted of three counts of rape; two counts of assault by penetration and one count of attempted rape – relating to four women.
