A trainee surgeon rapist, Salil Korambayil, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women in North Devon and Cornwall, has also admitted to unlawfully accessing patient records at hospital trusts.
Salil Korambayil received a 14-year prison sentence for committing rape, as well as a one-year penalty for violating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Data Protection Act 2018. These sentences will be served one after the other.
Salil Korambayil, a 32-year-old resident of Redhill in Surrey, perpetrated acts of assault and sexual violation against the two victims within the confines of their residences after establishing contact with them over social media. In November 2023, he was found guilty by a jury at Truro Crown Court of three charges of rape, notwithstanding his denial.
Salil Korambayil has admitted guilt for three offences involving the improper use of documents at hospital trusts in Devon and Cornwall. As a result, he has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, to be served consecutively with his term for rape.
The sentencing information for the rape cases can now be disclosed to the public today, Thursday, 29 August, as the publication restrictions have been lifted after the sentencing for the data-related charges.
Detectives have commended the victims of his crimes for their bravery.
One instance of rape occurred in North Devon in August 2020, while the other two incidents occurred in Cornwall in March 2021.
According to the court, Salil Korambayil had served as a trainee surgeon specialising in colorectal and vascular procedures in hospitals from 2016 to 2021.
Judge Simon Carr sentenced Korambayil for the rapes in December 2023 and explicitly stated that he intentionally selected ladies who were far older than him. You discovered them online. You observed visual representations of them. You were acutely cognisant of the age disparity. In both cases, you dedicated more than a year to nurturing them – there is no alternative term to describe this.
Personal statements from both victims were read out in court.
One said that, since the rape, she has lost confidence and no longer feels comfortable walking alone. If she must go somewhere on her own, she travels by car, even for short journeys. She experiences panic attacks and takes medication to control these.
She suffers from loss of sleep, has experienced a decline in her mental health and endures rapid mood swings.
She said: “I have a constant nightmare of being chased and hunted down, I also sometimes wake myself up screaming. In the morning, I don’t feel as though I have slept at all, and I constantly wake up during the night.”
The second victim described how, prior to the attack, she had been resilient, professional and vivacious, with a wide circle of friends. Since that day she is haunted by flashbacks and nightmares and felt ‘broken’ by the experience.
She said that everything she does now is in solitude. She has lost faith in the medical and surgical profession, and suffers panic attacks during examinations.
The victim added: “Despite all the disruption, distress and trauma, you did one thing right in all of this and that was to underestimate me. I take comfort and pride in knowing that your decision to pick on me that night, led to you eventually paying for your crimes.”
On 15 December 2023, he received a sentence and was incarcerated. However, the judge imposed reporting limits on the case until the court processes over the data breaches were completed.
Salil Korambayil confessed to accessing patient records without any legitimate professional requirement at the NHS trusts where he had previously been employed.
These offences were connected to the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.
During an earlier hearing, the judge dropped two more counts under the Computer Misuse Act related to alleged incidents at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
Detective Inspector Daniel Massey, who spearheaded the investigation known as Operation Humulis, emphasised that the significance of this result lies primarily in the bravery of the victims. They not only dared to come forward and report the incidents they experienced but also actively participated in the entire process.
“Furthermore, the conviction of Salil Korambayil for these heinous crimes is not only a matter of justice for the victims and their families but also a source of positivity for everyone involved.”
“Devon & Cornwall Police is dedicated to promoting and assisting any individual who has been a victim of sexual or abusive acts to come forward and officially report the incident.”
“We will consistently and vigorously investigate any such criminal activity and strive to hold the perpetrators accountable through legal proceedings.”
Regarding the access to NHS documents, he expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision to impose an additional sentence after a thorough and intricate examination.
The perpetrator was a male individual who held a position of trust and authority and exploited that position through his acts.
“We express our gratitude to all those who provided support during this investigation and contributed to the successful result.”
Anyone who thinks they may have been affected can contact Devon and Cornwall Police, quoting Operation Humilis and/or crime reference 50002000044 or contact their local Force.
Support is also available or you can report a crime by contacting the police via our website here or by calling 101. Alternatively, advice and support are also offered by our partner agencies:
National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999
Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC): 0300 3034626
More: www.dc.police.uk/Rape-SexualAssault
If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.