Indian man jailed for repeatedly groping 12-year-old girl on British Airways flight

A man from India has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl during a British Airways flight from Mumbai to London last December.

Javed Inamdar, 34, was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court of repeatedly groping the child while she slept on the overnight flight on 14 December 2024. According to The Sun, Inamdar, a married shipping executive with two children, began by stroking the girl’s hand to “test the waters” before placing his hands under her jumper and touching her breast.

The girl woke up crying and screamed, “get the f*** away from me,” prompting cabin crew to intervene. Cabin manager Rebecca Rooney testified that she found the child “visibly distressed” shortly after midnight. “She had her knees to her chest and was hugging herself,” Rooney said. “I asked her what happened, she stated the male in the seat next to her had put his hands up her jumper and had touched her breast,” according to a report in The Metro.

Inamdar, who has no legal status in the UK, claimed he may have mistaken the girl for his wife. He was assisted by a Hindi interpreter during the trial and reportedly sobbed throughout the proceedings.

Defence lawyer Lee Sergent argued that Inamdar had faced unusual hardship while on bail, noting that his employer had arranged housing for him in Britain. “He comes from a different part of the world in India. He has made some success of his life in India helping his family,” Sergent said. “Being on bail in this country has had a greater restriction on his life than a person from this country. He has not been able to see his wife or children. He has no right to stay in this country and if he was given a suspended sentence he would be leaving straight away on a plane.”

Judge Simon Davis rejected the defence’s claim that Inamdar had confused the child for his spouse. “You tested the waters by brushing her hand. You’re shaking your head but the jury has found their verdict. That was an outrageous thing to do. This country will protect people like this young girl, especially at that young age,” the judge said. “When she was horrified and protested, you ran as fast as you could, making up what you could say as a way of defence.”

The judge acknowledged Inamdar’s prolonged separation from his family as a mitigating factor. “I have decreased the sentence because of you waiting in this country and not being able to communicate with your wife, which in itself is another tragedy. I consider that as a material factor,” he said.

Inamdar was taken into custody following the sentencing.