Rajinder Singh: Former Sikh Temple, Jamisontown priest pleads guilty to child sex offences

A pushbike-riding Sikh priest who tried to kiss young girls before entering a female bathroom and touching an 11-year-old girl getting changed told police he was “horny”.

A religious worker who tried to get underage girls to kiss him at the Nepean River before entering a female bathroom and touching an 11-year-old girl getting changed told police he was “horny”, court documents revealed.

Rajinder Singh, 26, a former Sikh priest at a Jamisontown temple, recently pleaded guilty to two counts of intentionally do sexual act with child older than 10 and younger than 16 and one count of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm at Penrith Local Court.

The police facts reveal that on December 16 last year, Singh rode a pushbike to Tench Reserve, Jamisontown and said “hi” to two girls, aged 13 and 14, walking down to the wharf.

Supplied Editorial Tench Reserve, Jamisontown. Source: Google Maps.

As he stood at the top of the stairs “he touched his groin area, on the outside of his pants”, then walked onto the wharf.

Court documents state Singh said “kiss kiss” and pointed to his lips a number of times, in an interaction filmed by the victims, before placing his foot where the girls were sitting and again rubbing his groin area.

Singh followed the girls as they quickly fled and approached adults to call triple-0.

The police facts reveal the 26-year-old then cycled to Cables Water Park and walked into the female toilets where an 11-year-old girl was getting changed, with her swimmers down to her belly but covered in a towel.

Cables Water Park, Penrith. Source: Google Maps.

“This is a girls bathroom,” the victim said as Singh smiled back. According to court documents he walked over and touched her cheek, before sliding his hand down her neck and between her breasts, over the towel.

The girl screamed and locked herself in a nearby cubicle and a witness called triple-0.

Singh was arrested and taken to Penrith police station where he was interviewed, with an interpreter, and admitted to his actions when he was told he had been recorded.

Singh was arrested and taken to Penrith police station where he was interviewed and admitted to his actions when he was told he had been recorded.

“He made full admissions to touching his groin area stating he was attracted to them and agreeing he had asked them for a kiss” saying he was “horny” at the time, the police facts state.

In relation to the second incident, Singh initially said he had accidentally walked into the toilets not knowing they were female only. When further questioned, after being advised investigators had spoken to the girl and taken DNA, Singh said: “okay, maybe I touch”.

According to court documents, when Singh was asked why he touched the young girl he said he was “horny”.

Singh’s lawyer told Penrith Local Court it was the first time his client had been arrested.

“I don’t know what happened with my mind, I want to plead guilty,” Singh said via an interpreter.

A spokesman for the Sikh Temple in Jamisontown said Singh’s services as a priest were terminated following his arrest.

“We are really, really disappointed with (Singh’s) actions and it is not condoned,” the spokesman said.

“The whole community does not condone this act and his actions don’t have any place in Sikhism. We strongly condemn his behaviour and this very shameful action. His behaviour is not accepted by us and we will not tolerate this type of behaviour from anyone in our community.”

The matter will return to court in April.