Computer science student jailed for 13 years and nine months for sexual offences against children

Pic: Ratnakar Singh

A computer science student has been sentenced to 13 years and nine months at Teesside Crown Court today (Thursday 19 June), after he was found guilty of 26 sexual offences against children.

Ratnakar Singh, 25, from India, was studying a master’s degree in computer science at Teesside University when he carried out his crimes.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, three counts of inciting a child into sexual activity, two counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, penetrative sexual activity with a child, arranging the commission of a child sexual offence, causing or inciting a child under 13 into sexual activity and six counts of possession of indecent images of children.

Cleveland Police’s investigation into Singh began in 2024 when a concerned parent reported that her 13-year-old daughter had been subjected to sexual communication online from someone she believed to be an adult male. Enquiries led to Singh’s student accommodation address in Middlesbrough.

Officers arrested Singh, seizing his laptop and two mobile phones. When officers forensically examined his electronic devices, they uncovered the extent of his online offending with 1914 child sexual abuse videos and images on his mobile phones, over 900 of which were of the most serious category A. His laptop contained a further 285 images of children being sexually abused, with 84 of the most serious category A.

An in-depth investigation by the force’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team (POLIT) followed, uncovering the true scale of his offending. Officers located images and videos showing Singh engaging in the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl in a hotel room in August 2024.

Detailed plans of Singh’s arrangements to travel to the London area to commit these offences were found on his devices, along with evidence of a sustained period of online sexual grooming, where Singh lied about his age throughout, pretending to be a teenager.

Officers began to piece together details his campaign of grooming with further images and videos of vulnerable children recovered from his devices, along with continuous sexual communications with a number of children

Through victim identification work, detectives were able to locate, safeguard and obtain evidential accounts from six victims.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Dave Riley of the POLIT said: “Singh subjected his victims to coercion and threats in order to fulfil his own sexual desires. He made secretive recordings of young victims without their knowledge and lied throughout his grooming campaign about his own age.

“These vulnerable children have exhibited immense bravery throughout the course of this investigation, providing the evidence and information needed to ensure that Singh was brought to justice.

“Cleveland Police has worked in closely with colleagues at South Yorkshire Police, Nottinghamshire Police, Sussex Police and The Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that the brave victims will benefit from ongoing safeguarding.

“Singh attempted to conceal his criminal activity online, using his knowledge as a master’s degree student in computer sciences.

“Throughout this investigation, Ratnakar Singh has shown no accountability for his despicable actions, and no concern for the impact his offending has had on his victims. His crimes are abhorrent, and I am pleased that he has received a substantial custodial sentence, ensuring that the courage of the victims in this case is rewarded with the comfort of knowing Singh is behind bars.”