Sandeep Singh: Security guard sentenced for sexually assaulting intoxicated and almost naked teenage girl

A court has heard a security guard who sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl had problematic attitudes and beliefs about women’s sexuality. Read why he was able to leave court after his sentencing.

Sandeep Singh, 43, was sentenced after sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl he met while he was working. Picture: Emily Walker

A security guard, who sexually assaulted a teenage girl he met while on the job, was smiling as he left court after his sentencing.

Sandeep Singh, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault when he appeared in the Southport District Court on Monday.

The court heard a 17-year-old girl, who had been drinking that night, had been left in a carpark in just her bra after a sexual encounter on the evening of December 19, 2022.

The girl had lost her phone and couldn’t find her friends when she spotted Singh, who was driving in the area as part of his job as a mobile security guard, and thought he was an Uber driver.

The court heard the teenager got in the front passenger seat and asked him to drive to her suburb, even though Singh told her he wasn’t an Uber.

In the car, Singh asked multiple times to give and receive oral sex from the girl who repeatedly told him no and later while driving, used one hand to touch her on her thighs, pubic area and the outside of her vagina, the court heard.

The teenager expressed concern about not going in the direction of her home and Singh, who said he would drive her home, instead parked the car at Nobbys Beach and again asked multiple times to perform oral sex on her.

The teenager eventually said yes as she believed she would not be able get home unless she did so.

The court heard that Singh kissed the girl on her thighs and lower stomach.

Sandeep Singh, 43, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl he met while he was working. Picture: Emily Walker

After the assault, the teenager asked to be taken back to the carpark. Singh took her back to where he first spotted her, gave her a towel and drove away.

Crown prosecutor Darcy Evans asked for a term of imprisonment for Singh, and said the victim was in a very vulnerable position at the time.

“The defendant in his role of work … you would like to think would be rendering assistance to these types of positions,” he said.

Mr Evans referred to a psychologist’s report that said Singh’s behaviour was likely underpinned by problematic attitudes and beliefs about women’s sexuality.

Singh’s defence barrister Martin Longhurst instructed by TWC Lawyers, said his client grew up in a tiny Indian village and that Singh had since admitted he had formed erroneous beliefs.

Mr Longhurst said his client had told police certain actions left him with a certain mindset, and that the victim had said yes to him on one occasion.

“We all know that in the context, it's hardly a positive expression of consent but it’s not like there’s not acts whatsoever that enable someone with difficulty processing the certain cultural views and beliefs,” he said.

Mr Longhurst also rebutted Mr Evans’ comments that a person in Singh’s role would be expected to help out, and said his client was a security guard for buildings not people.

He said Singh immediately stopped the second assault, took the girl back to where she wanted to go after the assault, gave her a towel to wrap herself in and “did everything he could to make it right at that stage”.

The court heard Singh has since gone to a psychologist, was going through a program for sexual offenders, and offered to pay compensation

Judge Katarina Prskalo KC accepted Singh was remorseful and given his lack of previous criminal history and further offences, said the offence had been out of character.

He was sentenced to a 12 month imprisonment, wholly suspended and must pay $7,500 compensation within one month.