A 51-year-old Indian man who travelled to Canada to visit his newborn grandchild has been convicted of criminal harassment after repeatedly approaching teenage girls outside a high school in Sarnia, Ontario. The man, Jagjit Singh, was living in Canada on a six-month visitor visa. He will now be deported and permanently banned from returning to the country.
According to Canadian police, Singh arrived in July and began spending time near a local high school soon after reaching Sarnia. His behaviour between September 8 and 11 led to serious complaints from students, resulting in two arrests, multiple charges, and finally his conviction in court. What began as a family visit has ended in a criminal case, emotional harm to the victims, and a strong warning from Canadian authorities about protecting children from unwanted behaviour by adults.
The incidents took place near the smoking area outside the high school. Police said Singh, who does not speak English, started approaching teenage girls at the spot almost every day. He reportedly tried talking to them about drugs and alcohol and repeatedly asked them to take pictures with him. The girls told investigators that his behaviour made them uncomfortable and frightened.
One of the complainants described how Singh insisted on taking a photograph with her. She said she refused at first, hoping he would go away. However, she eventually agreed to one photo so he might stop approaching her. But police said the situation became more serious: Singh “entered her personal space” and attempted to put his arm around her. The girl was so uncomfortable that she pushed him away.
Even after this, Singh allegedly continued to follow female students as they left school grounds. Because he could not speak English, the girls were unable to understand what he wanted, which added to their fear. Police said the behaviour continued over several days, leading to multiple complaints.
On September 16, the police arrested Singh and charged him with sexual interference and sexual assault. However, he was later granted bail. The same day, another complainant came forward reporting that Singh had approached her as well, causing a second arrest soon after. An interpreter was not immediately available, which kept Singh in custody for one extra night.
Three days later, on September 19, Singh appeared in court. He pleaded not guilty to sexual interference but admitted guilt to a lesser charge of criminal harassment. The judge accepted his guilty plea and sentenced him to time already served in custody, which was counted as nine days.
Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski strongly criticised Singh’s actions. In court, she said, “You had no business attending at the property of that high school,” adding that such conduct “will not be tolerated.” She also made it clear that approaching minors in this way is taken very seriously in Canada.
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Along with the time-served jail sentence, the court issued a three-year probation order. During this probation period, Singh is forbidden from contacting the victims or going near their homes, schools, or workplaces. He is also banned from being around anyone under 16 years of age, except his newborn grandchild. In addition, he cannot come within 100 metres of any school, playground, park, pool, or community centre.
During the sentencing, the court heard victim-impact statements from the girls. One girl said the incident left her feeling unsafe around older men and people who looked like Singh. Another girl explained that her mental health had suffered and she now avoids public spaces because she fears another similar encounter. These statements highlighted how the short incidents had long-lasting emotional effects on the teens.
Police also shared more details during the court process. They said one victim reported that Singh tried to kiss her and touch her inappropriately while taking a photo. This led to a second set of charges on September 23, including sexual assault and sexual interference.
As soon as the court hearing ended, officers from the Canada Border Services Agency took Singh into custody. Although Singh had already booked a return ticket to India for December 30, Canadian immigration officials decided not to wait. His deportation is now being processed much earlier due to the seriousness of the case.
The Winnipeg Sun reported that Singh will be permanently banned from re-entering Canada. This means he will no longer be allowed to visit his family members in the country. The case has drawn attention to how strictly Canadian authorities respond to incidents involving minors, even when the accused is a visitor with no criminal background.
Local officials said the firm action should reassure the public that young students’ safety is a priority. The case also serves as a reminder that visitors to Canada must follow strict boundaries when interacting with minors, and that any behaviour perceived as threatening or inappropriate will have serious consequences.
For Singh, the visit intended to celebrate the birth of a grandchild ended in arrests, court appearances, emotional harm to young girls, and ultimately permanent removal from the country. For the victims, the incident has caused stress, fear, and distrust that may take a long time to heal. Canadian authorities emphasised that such behaviour around schools and minors is unacceptable and will be dealt with firmly every time.
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