A man described as a "trusted" pillar of Peterborough's Nepalese community has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a horrific campaign of sexual abuse against seven girls and a woman.
Abuse of Trust and Authority
Pramod Dhakal, 49, of Grange Road, Peterborough, used his respected position, which included conducting religious ceremonies, to gain "trusted access to a number of young females," Cambridge Crown Court heard. His youngest victim was just eight years old when he raped her.
The court found him guilty of a total of 25 sexual offences, which included five counts of rape of a child under 13 and two counts of rape of a child over 13. While most of the abuse occurred in Peterborough, one victim was assaulted in London.
Victims' Lifelong Trauma
Prosecutor Claire Matthews detailed how one victim saw Dhakal as a "second father." In her impact statement, the victim recalled the "feeling of helplessness" and said he told her "it won't take long." She described years of silence due to "emotional manipulation," stating he taught her "the truth would do more harm than good."
Several victims spoke of the lifelong impact of his crimes, with some suffering mental breakdowns. Despite the overwhelming evidence and victim testimony, Dhakal, who had no prior convictions, continues to deny his guilt and was accused of "victim blaming" in his pre-sentence report.
Justice Served and a Message to Survivors
On 3 December 2025, Judge sent Dhakal to prison for 25 years, with an extended licence period of eight years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely and given a restraining order prohibiting contact with all eight victims.
Detective Constable Phillipa Mallett, commended by the judge for her investigation, said: "This case highlights that no matter when the abuse happened or when you feel comfortable to share your story with the police, we take reports of this nature extremely seriously."
She added: "I hope this outcome brings closure to the survivors of Dhakal's abuse. I commend them on their bravery for coming forward and potentially stopping further children being exploited."
