Description
A man from Southampton has received a prison sentence for a series of thefts as well as sexually assaulting a female hairdresser.
Rashpal Sanghera, aged 36, of Southampton, has been jailed for 30 months after he sexually assaulted a female hairdresser.
He was also responsible for a spate of thefts.
Southampton Crown Court heard he had been having his beard trimmed when he sexually assaulted the female hairdresser.
Sanghera chased the victim around the barbershop. When he forced himself on her, she used a rolled-up magazine to fend him off.
He stopped the assault, however, Sanghera issued a threat, telling the victim:
Watch out what happens to you.
Robert Welling, prosecuting, said the woman was alone at the time and was left scared and distressed by the ordeal.
In September 2019, Sanghera was arrested and released under investigation.
On October 18, 2019, he had been driving his BMW on The Avenue when he was pulled over. A test found traces of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine, in his system.
Sanghera, who has 29 existing convictions, went on to steal a charity tin from Sams Chicken Takeaway in Shirley High Street on January 17, 2020.
On January 27, he stole another charity tin from Moby Dick fish and chip shop in Church Street, Shirley.
Sanghera was later found in possession of a bank card which had been stolen from a student.
He used it to pay off 770.21 of drug debts across Southampton, Eastleigh and Winchester.
On February 1, Sanghera had been at the McColls store in Bedford Place when he lunged over the counter and stole four scratch cards.
Just days later on February 7, he and a friend stole four bottles of alcohol worth 115 from Sainsburys in Leigh Road, Eastleigh.
Sanghera then failed to appear at court for the sexual assault offence but was found guilty in his absence on March 16.
He was finally arrested on March 24, 2020.
On March 25, he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, one fraud, one burglary and one count of driving under the influence of drugs.
Chris Gager, defending, stated that Sanghera planned to change but was stuck in a vicious circle of drug abuse.
Sanghera was jailed for 30 months, of which he will serve half. As he was sentenced, he repeatedly abused Judge Christopher Parker.
Sanghera was also disqualified from driving for two years which will begin upon his release.
In 2015, he had been accused of robbing a sex worker in her own home.
The victim had been at her home when three men burst in and one of them held a knife to her throat before making off with 100 and identity documents.
Sanghera was arrested and interviewed by police.
He admitted going to her flat, saying he wanted to have sex with Miss Pasare, but told detectives he had a panic attack and denied being involved in any robbery, the court heard.
After listening to evidence given by defence witnesses the jury found him not guilty.