Indian man jailed for sexually assaulting 12-year-old girl on British Airways flight

A 34-year-old Indian man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl on a British Airways flight from Mumbai to London Heathrow.

Javed Inamdar, a married shipping company executive with two children, assaulted the girl while she slept during the overnight flight on December 14 last year. Court records show he first "tested the waters" by stroking her hand before proceeding with the sexual assault.

The victim woke up screaming "get away from me" and immediately alerted cabin crew. Witness passenger Anna Miller recalled hearing "a young girl's voice, she sounded distressed, saying 'get away from me.'"

Another passenger seated near the girl stated she was "completely terrified, probably crying" and repeatedly said the man had put his hands down her clothes.

British Airways cabin manager Rebecca Rooney described the girl as "clearly distressed" and curled up in a fetal position. Crew moved Inamdar to another seat and notified the captain.

Inamdar initially claimed he thought the girl was his wife when he woke up holding her, and later told police he was asleep and "didn't know where his hands were," insisting any contact was accidental.

Judge Simon Davis condemned the "outrageous" premeditated assault, noting Inamdar had planned the attack after choosing his window seat. The reduced 21-month sentence considered the defendant's separation from family while awaiting trial in Britain.