A migrant who raped a customer while he was working as an Uber Eats delivery driver has been jailed for 44 months.
Jitendrakumar Prajapati, 47, delivered food to the young woman’s home in Boston, Lincolnshire, at around lunchtime on January 14.
He then convinced her to hand over her number by claiming he wanted to chat about his visa application.
Prajapati later returned to the property at 5pm where he raped the victim before texting her to say ‘sorry’ after carrying out the harrowing sexual assault.
He has now been sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court to a five-year custodial term, reduced to three years and eight months after pleading guilty to rape.
He was also sentenced concurrently for 18 months for sexual assault and served with a deportation order.
The court heard that after delivering food to the vulnerable victim, Prajapati struck up conversation with her, stating that he had just moved to the area not knowing anyone and needed assistance getting a visa and help to work.
He asked for the victim’s Instagram account details and they swapped phone numbers.
Prajapati then returned to her home a few hours later where they engaged in general conversation for a while before things took a sinister turn and he raped his victim.
Jitendrakumar Prajapati, 47, has been sentenced to three years and eight months after pleading guilty to raping a young woman in Boston, Lincolnshire
Prajapati was working as a an Uber Eats driver at the time and the young woman was a customer. After delivering the food at midday he returned to the property at 5pm where the harrowing sexual assault took place (file image)
After leaving the property, he sent a message to his victim saying, ‘Hey I am sorry’.
He then changed his WhatsApp username and enabled ‘disappearing chat after 24 hours’.
More messages were exchanged where the victim accused him of raping her. His responses were apologetic and begging her not to tell.
The brave woman has been praised by Lincolnshire Police for immediately contacting the force which meant Prajapati was in custody by 9pm that evening.
He was arrested on suspicion of rape and also non-fatal strangulation, a charge which was later dropped at court.
Detective Constable Jessica McKiernan, who investigated the case, said: ‘Bringing this offender to justice was made possible by the extraordinary courage shown by the victim in coming forward at the earliest opportunity.
‘Her trust in us allowed our officers to begin swift and focused inquiries, which led to the suspect being located within hours.
‘Her bravery has been vital in ensuring he is now held to account. We hope this outcome offers her some sense of reassurance as she moves forward on her own terms.’
Lincolnshire Police said: ‘Lincolnshire Police are not responsible for sentencing. Policing is part of a broader criminal justice system, and its role is to protect the public, enforce the law, investigate crimes, gather evidence, arrest and detain suspected offenders.
‘Police forces help build case files for court and may be involved in the court process, but do not lead on the sentences convicted offenders receive, where they go to prison, or when they are released.’
