Trio sentenced for kidnapping woman

Three men who coerced a woman into getting in their car and driving her more than 15 miles have each been jailed for a total of 10 years.

Ajay Doppalapudi, Vahar Manchala and Rana Yellambai approached their victim – who had been on a night out – in Leicester city centre in the early hours of Sunday 16 January last year. She got into their car, believing it was a taxi.

However, when the car drove along Narborough Road – away from her house – she realised something was not right.

The driver eventually stopped in a secluded area of Misterton, just off the M1, where the victim was pulled from the car. After a while, she was able to make good her escape and ran off. She eventually reached the motorway, where she began trying to attract attention. After a short time, officers arrived and she was taken to a place of safety, where she disclosed what happened.

Subsequent CCTV enquiries identified the car – an Audi – in Leicester city centre. The registered keeper was living in Gaul Street in the Westcotes area of Leicester.

Officers visited the address and all three men – who lived at the property – were arrested.

Today (Friday 6 October):

• Doppalapudi, 27, sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of kidnap on 11 September following a trial
• Manchala, 24, sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of kidnap
• Yellambai, 30, sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of kidnap

Detective Constable Gemma Fox, the investigating officer, said: “Without doubt, the three men involved in this case were predators. They were in the city centre in the early hours that Sunday morning looking for a woman to take advantage of to fulfil their own sexual gratifications.

“I cannot commend the victim enough for her immense bravery in recounting her ordeal both to police and again in front of a jury.

“The account she was able to provide was vital in ensuring that we were able to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

• Doppalapudi and Yellambai also each charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration. They were both found not guilty of both counts of sexual assault on a female, as well as one count of sexual assault by penetration. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the other count for either man
• Manchala was also charged with two counts of sexual assault on a female and two counts of sexual assault by penetration. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on any of these indictments