Sandeep Chauhan SENTENCED IN Basingstoke AND Leyton FOR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
| Red Rose Database
Basingstoke Leyton Child Sexual Abuser
In September 2013, Sandeep Chauhan, a foreign student who had been residing in the United Kingdom since 2009, was sentenced to four years in prison following his involvement in a disturbing case of online grooming and sexual misconduct involving a 14-year-old girl from Basingstoke. The case was heard at Winchester Crown Court, where the court was presented with detailed evidence of Chauhan's predatory behavior and the sequence of events that led to his conviction.
According to the prosecution, Michael Butt, Chauhan, aged 25 at the time, initiated contact with the young girl through the music file-sharing website BearShare.com at the beginning of the summer of the previous year. Despite being aware from the outset that the girl was only 14 years old, Chauhan continued to communicate with her through various online platforms, including text messaging, Facebook, and chatrooms. The court was told that Chauhan deliberately gained her trust by expressing affection and love, which eventually led him to suggest they meet in person.
The girl, initially hesitant, asked if she could bring her mother when Chauhan proposed they meet at the Red Lion Hotel located on Winchester Street in Basingstoke. Chauhan agreed to her request, which appeared to bolster her confidence, and she decided to meet him alone. Their first encounter at the hotel resulted in a sexual act, and over the following months, they met on three more occasions. These meetings took place at various locations, including the girl’s father’s flat in Basingstoke and Chauhan’s residence in Leyton, east London, where the girl stayed for three days. On each occasion, sexual activity was reported to have occurred.
The court heard that the girl later wished to end the relationship. However, Chauhan threatened to kill himself if she did so, which led her to confide in friends and family about the situation. The case took a further turn when Chauhan was arrested in November of the previous year. During his arrest, authorities discovered a forged work visa that he had used alongside his valid student visa to secure employment at a bakery, highlighting his attempt to deceive authorities.
Chauhan’s defense, represented by Matthew Groves, argued that the sexual encounters were consensual and that both the victim and the defendant possessed a similar level of maturity. However, Judge Peter Henry dismissed these claims, emphasizing that physical appearance does not equate to emotional maturity. The judge stated, “Just because a girl looks more than 14 does not mean she is emotionally older than that. You were undoubtedly the more mature person in this relationship and undoubtedly you knew that what you were doing was wrong.”
Ultimately, Chauhan was convicted of five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of possessing a forged document. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The case drew attention to the dangers of online grooming and the importance of parental vigilance.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Drew Wright, the investigating officer, expressed his support for the verdict, stating, “We welcome this sentence for Mr. Chauhan. He is a dangerous individual who preyed on a vulnerable young girl. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind parents to talk to their children about the dangers of chatting to people they don’t know online. Have a conversation with your children and encourage them to tell you if they are suspicious of anyone who has contacted them online.”
According to the prosecution, Michael Butt, Chauhan, aged 25 at the time, initiated contact with the young girl through the music file-sharing website BearShare.com at the beginning of the summer of the previous year. Despite being aware from the outset that the girl was only 14 years old, Chauhan continued to communicate with her through various online platforms, including text messaging, Facebook, and chatrooms. The court was told that Chauhan deliberately gained her trust by expressing affection and love, which eventually led him to suggest they meet in person.
The girl, initially hesitant, asked if she could bring her mother when Chauhan proposed they meet at the Red Lion Hotel located on Winchester Street in Basingstoke. Chauhan agreed to her request, which appeared to bolster her confidence, and she decided to meet him alone. Their first encounter at the hotel resulted in a sexual act, and over the following months, they met on three more occasions. These meetings took place at various locations, including the girl’s father’s flat in Basingstoke and Chauhan’s residence in Leyton, east London, where the girl stayed for three days. On each occasion, sexual activity was reported to have occurred.
The court heard that the girl later wished to end the relationship. However, Chauhan threatened to kill himself if she did so, which led her to confide in friends and family about the situation. The case took a further turn when Chauhan was arrested in November of the previous year. During his arrest, authorities discovered a forged work visa that he had used alongside his valid student visa to secure employment at a bakery, highlighting his attempt to deceive authorities.
Chauhan’s defense, represented by Matthew Groves, argued that the sexual encounters were consensual and that both the victim and the defendant possessed a similar level of maturity. However, Judge Peter Henry dismissed these claims, emphasizing that physical appearance does not equate to emotional maturity. The judge stated, “Just because a girl looks more than 14 does not mean she is emotionally older than that. You were undoubtedly the more mature person in this relationship and undoubtedly you knew that what you were doing was wrong.”
Ultimately, Chauhan was convicted of five counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of possessing a forged document. He was sentenced to four years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The case drew attention to the dangers of online grooming and the importance of parental vigilance.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Drew Wright, the investigating officer, expressed his support for the verdict, stating, “We welcome this sentence for Mr. Chauhan. He is a dangerous individual who preyed on a vulnerable young girl. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind parents to talk to their children about the dangers of chatting to people they don’t know online. Have a conversation with your children and encourage them to tell you if they are suspicious of anyone who has contacted them online.”