A masseur who sexually assaulted a vulnerable young singer and actress at a West End massage parlour has been jailed for four years after leaving his victim suffering panic attacks and unable to trust strangers.
Sundaralingam Koodalingam, 36, who came to Britain from the Maldives in 2021, intimately touched the famous performer without her consent as she lay naked on a massage table at the Rupert Jade Thai Massage in Soho.
Southwark Crown Court heard the assault has “fundamentally changed” the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, causing “significant psychological harm” and stifling her creativity through fear and insecurity.
The 36-year-old masseur from Manor Park, east London, was convicted of assault by penetration and sexual assault following a trial, despite denying the charges.
In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, the young actress revealed she has been left “sad and untrusting” following the March 2023 assault, struggling to know who she is anymore.
“Immediately after the incident took place, I couldn’t go to work. I have had to have regular therapy sessions since the incident,” she told the court.
The performer described how the assault had shattered her self-perception: “I struggled to know who I was as I always saw myself as someone who would stand up and fight.”
She revealed the profound difficulty in discussing her ordeal with friends, stating: “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.”
In a particularly harrowing section of her statement, she said: “Imagine the sentence ‘At least he didn’t rape you’ being the silver lining.
The court heard how the assault has left lasting psychological scars on the victim, who described herself as “fundamentally changed” by the incident.
“The actions of the defendant left me sad and untrusting of people,” she stated. “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,” the victim added.
Despite the trauma, she concluded with a note of defiance: “I now know I did absolutely nothing wrong that day.”
Prosecutor Fiona Robertson emphasised the severity of the case, telling the court: “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,” Ms Robertson added.
Defence counsel Ben Hargreaves acknowledged the power of the victim’s statement, saying: “Nothing I can possibly say can devalue that victim impact statement at all.”
Mr Hargreaves told the court that Koodalingam had come to Britain in 2021 “under the sponsorship of a legitimate business in the Cotswolds” and argued that any prison sentence would be particularly difficult for him.
“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,” the defence counsel stated.
“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,” Mr Hargreaves added.
The court heard that Koodalingam, who appeared wearing a grey jumper and dark blue jeans, is originally from the Maldives but was educated in India.
Sentencing, Mr Recorder Jeremy Brier KC delivered a damning assessment of Koodalingam’s actions, telling him: “On March 29, 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. This was a terrible ordeal for her. She describes it as a violation,” the judge stated.
Mr Recorder Brier emphasised the victim’s vulnerability, noting: “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,” the judge continued.
The judge concluded: “This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified.”
Mr Recorder Brier sentenced Koodalingam to four years imprisonment for assault by penetration, stating this was “the lowest possible sentence” he could pass, with two years concurrent for the sexual assault conviction.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about sexual assault within the massage and wellness industry, where clients are particularly vulnerable due to the intimate nature of treatments and the trust required in practitioners.
Sexual assault statistics from 2025 show that the average custodial sentence for sexual offences in England and Wales ranges from five to ten years, though sentences vary significantly based on the specific circumstances and charges.
The victim’s powerful testimony underscores the long-lasting psychological impact of sexual assault, with her description of panic attacks, loss of trust, and fundamental changes to her personality reflecting common trauma responses experienced by survivors.
Support services are available for victims of sexual assault through organisations including Rape Crisis England & Wales, which operates a national helpline offering confidential support and counselling services.
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