A married father of two has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison in New Zealand for raping a woman he encountered on a dating app during a late-night freight operation. Shamsher Singh, a 33-year-old of Indian origin, assaulted the victim inside the cab of his commercial truck while parked on a remote stretch of highway between Nelson and Blenheim, according to the NZ Herald.
Guilty verdict despite denial
Singh was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Despite medical evidence and the jury's verdict, he has persistently denied any wrongdoing.
Details of the incident
The crime occurred in January 2024 after the pair connected online and met for lunch in Nelson. When Singh learned that the woman's father was also a truck driver, he invited her to accompany him on a commercial delivery trip during the night. The victim accepted because her childhood memories of traveling with her father made her feel secure around trucks.
The assault took place during the return leg of the journey in the early hours of the morning. The victim was sleeping on the bed inside the vehicle when Singh pulled over in the remote Rai Valley and immediately launched a physical attack.
When the woman fought back, Singh told her, “F*** it, I’m horny, let’s do it,” before pinning her down and forcing himself on her.
Prosecution and victim impact
Crown prosecutor Sophie O’Donoghue argued that the victim was vulnerable, stranded in a completely isolated area with no means of escape. O'Donoghue said Singh ignored the woman's distress and later attempted to deflect blame by claiming the victim had a choice and could have escaped sooner.
Following the assault, Singh drove back to the Nelson freight depot, where the victim fled and contacted the police. A medical examination later revealed bruising across her body.
In court, the woman, crying, stated that the attack destroyed her sense of safety and ruined her childhood memories. Addressing Singh directly, she said, “You stole those happy memories from me when you held me down and raped me. You left me feeling disgusted and ashamed and I blamed myself for what happened, and for getting in your truck.”
Sentencing remarks
During sentencing, Judge Harrop emphasized that the responsibility for the crime lies solely with the offender. He noted that Singh did not participate in restorative justice, did not apologize, and showed no remorse, thus forfeiting typical sentence reductions.
Defence lawyer Paul Borich, KC, described the assault as an "out of character incident" for Singh, highlighting his steady work record and support from his family and the South Island branch of the New Zealand Sikh Society. He also mentioned that Singh's wife continues to support him despite the impact on their family.
Judge Harrop set a starting sentence of eight years in prison. He then reduced it slightly for Singh's previous good character and by 10 percent for the financial and emotional hardship his imprisonment would cause his wife and two young children.
Singh received a final sentence of six years and nine months for rape, alongside a two-year concurrent sentence for sexual assault.
