Sundaralingam Koodalingam, 36, groped the well-known female actress and singer at the Rupert Jade Thai Massage in Soho in London’s West End while she was lying on a table
A man who put a well-known actress through a ‘terrible ordeal’ while lying on a table at a massage parlour has been jailed.
Sundaralingam Koodalingam, 36, who came to the country from the Maldives in 2021, assaulted the woman at the Rupert Jade Thai Massage in Soho in London’s West End. He groped her at the parlour in Rupert Street in an attack which the victim described as a “violation” and she has suffered panic attacks since, a court heard.
Koodalingam appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a grey jumper and dark blue jeans. He has been sentenced after denying assault by penetration and sexual assault.
Jailing the masseur for four years today, Mr Recorder Jeremy Brier, KC, told Koodalingam: “On 29 March 2023 a young female actress and singer went to the Rupert Jade massage parlour in Soho. During the course of the massage you assaulted her.”
He continued: “This was a terrible ordeal for her. She describes it as a violation. She describes having panic attacks, and says that she cannot relax in public spaces since the incident has taken place. She was naked, vulnerable, and entirely trusting in your professionalism and integrity. This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.”
The judge said the lowest possible sentence he could pass was four years for assault by penetration with two years concurrent for the sexual assault. In a victim impact statement that was read to the court the woman said: “Immediately after the incident took place I couldn’t go to work.
“I have had to have regular therapy sessions since the incident. I struggled to know who I was as I always saw myself as someone who would stand up and fight.”
She explained that she found it difficult to talk to people about her ordeal. “I found it difficult to talk to friends about what had happened. I don’t want to use the words necessary to explain what he did to me,” she said.
“Imagine the sentence ‘At least he didn’t rape you’ being the silver lining.. Ultimately, I am fundamentally changed by the incident. The actions of the defendant left me sad and untrusting of people. I don’t know if I will ever get back to who I was before that day.
“He has taken away my trust, and my innocence, and my ability to give anyone, especially a stranger who happens to be a man the benefit of the doubt.”
She said that her “creativity was stifled by fear and insecurity”. But she added: “I now know I did absolutely nothing wrong that day.”
Fiona Robertson, prosecuting, said: ‘It is clear there was an abuse of trust between a professional masseuse and a client. There was significant psychological harm. She talks about the ongoing impact on her day to day life. She talks about the impact across different aspects of her life.”
Referring to the victim impact statement Ben Hargreaves, defending, said: “Nothing I can possibly say can devalue that victim interest statement at all.” He continued: “He came to this country under the sponsorship of a legitimate business in the Cotswolds.
“The prison estate is in dire straits. Any prison sentence that he faces will be long, hard and cruel in desolate and decrepit buildings and circumstances. He has been in the country since 2021. Any term that he spends incarcerated will be exceptionally hard for him especially given the offence that he is convicted of.”
