Sheffield student “misinterpreted” flatmate's signals - restraining her for 45 minutes as she tried to leave
The judge ruled the student still presents a high risk to the victim
A Sheffield student who “misinterpreted” his relationship with his female flatmate was seen physically restraining her for 45 minutes as she tried to leave their accommodation, a court heard.
Murali Nadendla, aged 27, was shown on CCTV trying to carry the “shaking” woman back up the communal stairs of their student accommodation and striking her to the face as she resisted.
Sheffield Crown Court heard his attempts to subdue the terrified fellow student at the city centre halls lasted for 45 minutes and she eventually “gave up” the fight - returning to the flat with Nadendla as she had “no other option”.
However a female student intervened and alerted security staff and the defendant was later arrested and then charged with false imprisonment.
Nicola Quinney, prosecuting, told the court how Nadendla, from India, first met his victim face-to-face after she offered a room in the shared flat to members of an “online chat group” and Nadendla accepted.
She said: “It was agreed the defendant would move into the shared accommodation however (the complainant) stated the defendant’s behaviour became a little erratic and he didn’t want her leaving the flat.”
CCTV footage from the bottom of the communal stairs of the Eldon Street building around 7am on January 27 this year showed Nadendla trying “multiple” times to scoop the struggling student up and carry her back up the stairs.
As she she tried to fight him off Nadendla struck the “clearly visibly upset” girl to the face with slaps more than once during incident, which lasted for “half-an-hour”.
The crying student was followed outside by Nadendla when she managed to exit the external doors, where he knocked her to the ground before a passing female student helped her escape the courtyard to the street outside.
However determined Nadendla persisted out onto the street. Ms Quinney added: “(The complainant) went back to the room with him because she could see no other option.”
A barrister representing Nadendla said her client, who had no previous convictions, had not planned the kidnapping but had acted on the spur of the moment in “desperation”.
She added: “At this moment in time he was concerned for the complainant’s welfare but he now fully accepts he should not have acted as he did that day. He clearly misinterpreted what was happening in this relationship.”
Recorder Simon Kealey told Nadendla: “I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not appropriate in your case to suspend the sentence.
“A probation report indicates you still present a high risk to the victim and you lack insight into the offending you committed.”
Nadendla, formerly of Eldon Street, was jailed for three years and handed a five-year restraining order. He admitted false imprisonment.