London massage parlour owner who used lure of jobs to rape four women is jailed - Sky News

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A massage parlour owner who used the lure of jobs to rape four young women in London has been jailed for 18 years.

Raghu Singamaneni ran two London massage parlours on Holloway Road, Islington and High Road, Wood Green.

The first victim who reported the 50-year-old to police was 17 when she arranged to meet him for an interview.

She told police that she met him at one of his parlours and he went through the training she would need.

The teenager met Singamaneni again at the parlour the next day and he gave her a glass of prosecco.

She told police she then became so intoxicated she was sick, his trial at Wood Green Crown Court heard.

Singamaneni then took her to a hotel where he attempted to rape the woman and sexually assaulted her.

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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.

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In another offence a 19-year-old woman reported that she had been raped at her place of work on High Road in Wood Green.

She said Singamaneni had asked for a massage, insisted that she drink some vodka and then raped her.

In the third case a 23-year-old woman arranged to meet Singamaneni at a hotel in Golders Green after answering a job advert.

When they entered the hotel room Singamaneni plied her with alcohol before forcibly removing her clothing and raping her.

The last offence happened at a hotel in Queens Avenue, Muswell Hill.

A 17-year-old woman 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 where she would meet someone to have a trial massage.

Singamaneni met her at the location before they went to a hotel room and he offered her drink and drugs which she accepted.

She was then raped by Singamaneni.

She left the hotel and called a friend who then called police.

Singamaneni was later 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.

Police have said he may have further victims and have asked them to come forward.

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."

Singamaneni of London Road, Luton, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday after being convicted on March 31.

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