Sikh leader jailed for 24 years in child sex case

A Sikh leader who admitted sexually assaulting children in the 1980s has been jailed for more than 24 years.

The incidents took place in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, between 1983 and 1987, including at a gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship.

Makhan Singh Mauji, of North Priors Court, Northampton, was a Granthi – a ceremonial reader of the Guru Granth Sahib – who would "invade the lives" of his victims, police said.

The 71-year-old pleaded guilty to a string of sexual offences during a trial at Cambridge Crown Court, where he was sentenced on Friday.

Judge Hurst said Mauji had inflicted "deep emotional scars using a significant breach of trust", and the sentence reflected the severity of his crimes.

The offences involved three victims who were aged between eight and 14 at the time.

He was sentenced for 11 counts of indecent assault, one count of attempted rape, and two counts of gross indecency with a child.

Mauji was handed a sexual harm prevention order as well as being placed on the sex offenders register for life.

After the case, Det Con Elizabeth McGrath, of Hertfordshire Police, said: "I just want to commend the victims for their incredible bravery to come forward and speak of their experiences of Mauji's offending. Without them, Mauji would never have answered for his crimes.

"This sentence hopefully paves the way for some closure for our victims, knowing that a sexual predator like Mauji will remain in prison for years."

Mauji had links to a number of other gurdwaras outside Hitchin, including in Northampton, Bedford and Milton Keynes.

A representative from the Sikh community in Hitchin said: "We commend the judge for passing a sentence to match the severity of the crimes that this opportunistic predator admitted to committing, whilst in a position of trust as the local Granthi.

"It is important to support one another and ensure that all communities remain vigilant and proactively call out such abhorrent behaviour.

"We hope that the vulnerable victims are able to have some solace, and admire their extraordinary courage in bringing this evil individual to justice."

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