Indian Uber Eats Driver Jitendrakumar Prajapati Sentenced for Rape of Customer in UK’s Boston

Mumbai, April 1: A 47-year-old Indian-origin Uber Eats delivery driver has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to the rape of a customer at her home in Boston, Lincolnshire. Jitendrakumar Prajapati, who targeted a woman he had met during a routine food delivery, was handed a five-year custodial sentence at Lincoln Crown Court, which was reduced to three years and eight months following his guilty plea. He was also sentenced concurrently for 18 months for s*xual assault and was served a deportation order. The case has drawn attention to the swift police response facilitated by digital evidence and the victim’s immediate report of the assault.

Initial Interaction by Accused and Breach of Trust

The court heard that the incident began on January 14, when Prajapati arrived at the victim's address to deliver a food order. During the interaction, he struck up a conversation with the woman, claiming he was new to the area and required assistance with visa-related issues. UK Shocker: Teen Driver Ploughs Into Rugby Player While Chatting With Friend, Jailed After Video Goes Viral.

By appealing to the victim's willingness to help, Prajapati obtained her phone number and Instagram handle. However, the interaction took a criminal turn later that evening when he returned to the property at approximately 5:00 PM and raped the woman, whom the court described as "vulnerable".

Digital Footprint and Apologetic Messages of Jitendrakumar Prajapati

Following the assault, Prajapati attempted to manage the situation through a series of messages. He sent a text to the victim stating, "Hey, I am sorry," and subsequently altered his WhatsApp settings to enable "disappearing chats" and changed his username to obscure his identity. In subsequent message exchanges, the victim explicitly accused him of rape. Prajapati’s recorded responses were described as apologetic, with the defendant reportedly begging the victim not to report the incident to the authorities.

Rapid Investigation and Arrest of the Accused

The victim contacted the police immediately after the attack, allowing for a high-speed investigation. By 9:00 p.m. that same evening, officers had located and arrested Prajapati on suspicion of rape and non-fatal strangulation. While the strangulation charge was later dropped during court proceedings, the forensic and digital evidence remained central to the prosecution. Detective Constable Jessica McKiernan, the lead investigator, emphasised the importance of the victim's prompt action. "Bringing this offender to justice was made possible by the extraordinary courage shown by the victim in coming forward at the earliest opportunity," McKiernan stated. "Her trust in us allowed our officers to begin swift and focused inquiries, which led to the suspect being located within hours," she added. UK Shocker: Ex-Mayor Naheed Ejaz Spoke in Urdu, Asked Rape-Accused Son Diwan Khan to Hide S*x Assault Video.

The Role of the Justice System in Sentencing

Following the verdict, Lincolnshire Police issued a statement clarifying the boundaries of their authority within the UK legal framework. The force noted that while they are responsible for protecting the public, investigating crimes, and gathering evidence for court files, they do not have a role in determining the final sentence. "Policing is part of a broader criminal justice system," the statement read. "Police forces help build case files for court... but do not lead on the sentences convicted offenders receive, where they go to prison, or when they are released," the statement added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 01, 2026 12:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).