Father-of-two who sexually assaulted girl, 12, on plane 'thought she was his wife'

A shipping company executive has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after groping a 12-year-old girl sleeping next to him on a plane, claiming he believed she was his wife. Javed Inamdar, 34, repeatedly stroked the girl's hand to "test the waters" before assaulting her on a British Airways flight from Mumbai to London Heathrow on December 14 last year.

The girl woke around midnight, crying and shouting, "get the f*** away from me", and promptly alerted the cabin crew, Isleworth Crown Court heard. Father-of-two Inamdar told a flight attendant that he "may have confused the young girl with his wife". Inamdar does not have a status in the UK and had been provided housing by his employers while he was on conditional bail in the UK during his trial, the court heard.

He was convicted by a jury of one count of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching. He denied and was sobbing in the dock at Isleworth Crown Court, assisted by a Hindi interpreter.

Lee Sergent, defending, said: "He comes from a different part of the world in India. He has made some success of his life in India helping his family. He has been on bail in this country because his employers have backed him and got him housing in this country.

"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."

Cabin manager Rebecca Rooney said the girl was 'visibly distressed', and had 'her knees to her chest and was hugging herself' at just after midnight on December 14.

Ms Rooney told the court: "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".

She then walked to the back of the plane to find the man and moved him into another seat, the court heard.

Flight attendant Michelle Adams was assigned to deal with Inamdar after the assault.

Inamdar claimed he thought the girl "was his wife" and that he had "fallen asleep cuddling her" and said he was also asleep when he assaulted the girl.

He also claimed he tried to explain to a flight attendant that there had been a misunderstanding. He later claimed during his police interview: "How can anyone specifically remember all this? Whether I moved my hand or anything like that?

"Yes, it's possible, accidentally, maybe, but not intentionally - that's 100%".

Judge Simon Davis said: "This is a tragic case for the young girl. You got on that airplane and sat yourself down on the window seat. At that stage you thought you had the opportunity to assault her.

"You tested the waters by brushing her hand. You're shaking your head, but the jury has found its verdict. That was an outrageous thing to do. This country will protect people like this young girl, especially at that young age.

"When she was horrified and protested, you ran as fast as you could, making up what you could say as a way of defence.

"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".

After he was convicted and led away to the cells, Inamdar shouted: "I need to call my wife to let her know what is happening".