LONDON (Diya TV) — Gagandeep Gulati, 20, from Hounslow in West London, was initially sentenced to six years for a violent sexual assault in Leicester. The Court of Appeal has now raised his sentence to nine years after a review by the Solicitor General.
Gulati was convicted in March at Leicester Crown Court of rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and sharing or threatening to share an intimate video. The attack happened on September 23 last year in Castle Gardens, a park in Leicester city center.
Police said Gulati met the woman, who was alone and intoxicated, near Jubilee Square. He then coerced her to walk with him to a secluded area where he raped and sexually assaulted her. CCTV footage helped officers trace Gulati’s movements on the night of the crime. He was arrested shortly after.
Gulati’s original sentence of six years was referred to the Court of Appeal by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The review increased to a nine-year term, which the judges ruled was more appropriate for the seriousness of the offense.
The court also imposed concurrent sentences of four years for assault by penetration and six months for sexual assault. Judges ruled that the charge of sharing or threatening to share an intimate video was wrongly tried in a crown court and should be treated as an aggravating factor in the rape offense.
Lord Justice Popplewell, speaking for the panel of judges, said Gulati filmed the rape to create a false impression of consent. He called this a “significant aggravating factor” and said the original sentence “was not merely lenient, but unduly so.”
During the police investigation, Gulati claimed that the victim had raped and assaulted him. He told officers, “She forced me, I did not force her. I am a religious person. I did not do anything wrong.” Investigators discovered he had filmed the rape on his phone and shared it with others. This directly contradicted his claims. During his trial, he continued to deny wrongdoing and even suggested the videos showed him being afraid.
Detective Constable Matt Smith, who led the case, said Gulati showed no remorse. “Even under cross-examination, Gulati tried to blame the victim,” Smith said. “He deliberately targeted a young woman while she was alone. He acted purely for his sexual gratification.” Following the ruling, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby welcomed the decision to extend Gulati’s prison term.
“Gagandeep Gulati’s rape of a vulnerable young woman before sharing his awful crimes with other people was sickening,” she said. “I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence following my intervention.”
Gulati has now been placed on the sex offender register for life. The court’s decision sends a strong message about the seriousness of sexual violence and the misuse of digital media to exploit victims. Throughout the trial, the victim showed courage in reliving her traumatic experience. Authorities praised her for helping bring Gulati to justice.
Detective Smith said, “The victim has shown immense bravery by going through the trial process. Her actions helped ensure Gulati was held accountable.” The case highlights the importance of victims coming forward and the role of technology in modern investigations. CCTV and digital evidence played a key part in securing the conviction.
