SUMIT SHAH KETTERING SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED AFTER TERRIFYING ATTACK ON 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In January 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in Kettering involving a convicted sex offender who committed a heinous assault on a 17-year-old girl while she was sleeping in her own bed. The perpetrator, Sumit Shah, aged 31 and residing on Rockingham Road in Kettering, was brought before Northampton Crown Court where he received a prison sentence after admitting to sexual assault charges from the previous year.

The court proceedings revealed that Shah had been out drinking with the victim’s father on the evening of September 15. Following their social outing, Shah had agreed to spend the night on the family’s sofa. However, the night took a sinister turn when Shah requested to use the downstairs toilet, only to secretly ascend the staircase and enter the girl’s bedroom at approximately 6:30 in the morning.

According to court reports, the young girl awoke to find Shah on her bed, engaging in inappropriate sexual touching. A struggle ensued as she attempted to resist his advances, resulting in both of them falling off the bed. During the altercation, Shah managed to pin her down and covered her mouth with his hand to prevent her from screaming for help. The ordeal was only interrupted when the girl’s mother entered the room after hearing muffled screams, bringing an end to the terrifying attack.

Prosecutor Lisa Hardy described the victim’s state of mind during the incident, stating that she believed she was going to die. The girl described the experience as extremely frightening, struggling to breathe and fearing that Shah intended to kill and rape her. She expressed relief that her mother’s timely intervention prevented the assault from escalating further and that she was not raped.

The court also learned that Shah had a prior conviction from 2008, when he was sentenced to six years in prison for two counts of rape. At that time, he had gained entry into a young girl’s house by pretending to be a gas engineer, a deception that underscores his manipulative tendencies.

During mitigation, defense lawyer Pippa Woodrow acknowledged that Shah had gained some insight during his time in prison but also highlighted that his recent behavior had been heavily influenced by alcohol and drugs. She suggested that these substances played a significant role in his actions on the night of the attack.

Judge Stokes QC delivered the sentence, condemning Shah to four years in prison with an additional four years on extended license. The judge clarified that Shah would not be eligible for parole until he had served at least two-thirds of his sentence. In his remarks, Judge Stokes emphasized the severity of Shah’s actions, noting that the victim had shown no interest in him but that he persisted regardless. The judge also pointed out that Shah continued to use violence even when the girl screamed for help, and he warned that Shah posed a substantial risk to young women in the community. The court’s decision reflects the gravity of the crime and the lasting impact it has on the victim’s life.