A 34-year-old Indian businessman has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for inappropriate conduct involving a 12-year-old girl during a British Airways flight from Mumbai to London.
The man, Javed Inamdar, was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.
The incident happened during an overnight flight on 14 December last year.
According to court testimony, the child was asleep beside Inamdar when he began making physical contact.
She awoke suddenly and shouted at him to move away, prompting crew members to intervene.
When confronted by cabin staff, Inamdar claimed he had mistaken the girl for his wife while half asleep.
He later repeated this claim to police, but the jury rejected his explanation and found him guilty.
During sentencing, Judge Simon Davis described the act as "outrageous" and said the UK’s legal system would always protect vulnerable individuals.
"You tested the waters by brushing her hand. This country will protect young girls like her, especially at that age," the judge said.
Witnesses told the court they heard the girl shouting in distress.
British Airways staff moved Inamdar to another seat and informed the captain, leading to his arrest upon arrival at Heathrow Airport.
Inamdar, a father of two, had been staying in the UK on conditional bail during the trial.
Appearing in court wearing a grey tracksuit and assisted by a Hindi interpreter, he wept as the sentence was delivered.
Judge Davis said the seriousness of the offence required a firm response.
Inamdar will serve half of his 21-month sentence in custody before being eligible for release and is expected to be deported thereafter.
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