A vape shop owner has been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison after he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl who attempted to steal a vape from his store.
Incident Details
Janpal Singh, 27, detained the teenager after she tried to take a vape without paying from his shop, ‘Fone Fix’, on Victoria Street, Paignton. He pushed her towards the back of the shop and subjected her to a sexual assault behind the counter. The victim managed to escape and reported the incident to police.
Trial and Sentencing
A trial at Plymouth Crown Court heard that the incident occurred in 2023. Jurors found Singh guilty of sexual assault on November 11 last year. On Thursday, April 23, Singh, of High Street, Exeter, was jailed for six years and eight months. He was also issued a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the National Sex Offender Register.
Police Statement
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Rachael Delaney, from Devon and Cornwall Police, praised the victim's courage. She said: “I sincerely hope that today’s outcome will encourage others to come forward to report sexual abuse and gives them the confidence to know that they will be believed and listened to.”
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