The quiet of the overnight flight from Mumbai to London shattered with a young girl’s silent distress. Cabin manager Rebecca Rooney discovered her huddled and trembling, knees drawn tight to her chest, a visible sign of trauma unfolding at 30,000 feet.
The girl, barely a child, recounted a horrifying ordeal: a man seated beside her had reached up, invading her personal space and causing unimaginable fear. Her account led Rooney to the passenger in question, a 34-year-old shipping boss named Javed Inamdar, and a swift relocation to a different seat.
Inamdar’s initial explanation, delivered to a flight attendant in the rear of the plane, was a bewildering claim of mistaken identity. He suggested he had somehow confused the young girl with his own wife, and that any contact was simply the result of falling asleep while cuddling her.
Police interviews revealed a shifting narrative. He questioned the accuracy of any recollection of his actions, suggesting any contact was accidental, a fleeting movement he couldn’t specifically remember. He insisted it was not intentional, a claim that ultimately failed to convince a jury.
The courtroom at Isleworth Crown Court was filled with tension as the jury delivered their verdict: guilty of assault. Throughout the sentencing, Inamdar wept, assisted by a Hindi interpreter, the weight of his actions finally crashing down.
Defense counsel argued that Inamdar’s life had been significantly disrupted by the bail conditions imposed upon him, separating him from his family and threatening his livelihood. He had no right to remain in the country and would depart immediately if given a suspended sentence.
Judge Simon Davis, however, delivered a stark condemnation of Inamdar’s behavior. He described the act as “outrageous,” emphasizing the country’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, especially children. The judge acknowledged the personal tragedy of Inamdar’s separation from his family, but it did not outweigh the severity of the crime.
Inamdar was sentenced to 21 months in prison. As he was led away, a desperate plea echoed through the courtroom: “I need to call my wife to let her know what is happening.” The moment underscored the devastating consequences of his actions, not only for the victim but for his own family as well.
The judge noted that Inamdar had deliberately “tested the waters” with unwanted physical contact, and then fabricated a defense when confronted. The jury’s verdict stood as a firm rejection of his attempts to minimize his culpability.
