Trainee surgeon jailed for raping two women in Devon and Cornwall

A trainee surgeon who met two women on social media and raped them in their own homes has been jailed for 14 years.

Salil Korambayil, 34, of Redhill in Surrey, was sentenced by Judge Simon Carr after being found guilty of three counts of rape at a retrial. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register for life.

A conviction, an appeal and a second trial

Salil Korambayil was first convicted by a jury at Truro Crown Court in November 2023, having denied three counts of rape. He then appealed, and the Court of Appeal quashed those convictions and ordered a retrial.

Reporting restrictions were in place until the retrial concluded. Those restrictions have now been lifted following the guilty verdicts, allowing the details to be reported today, Thursday 25 June.

He was jailed for seven years in relation to each victim, with the sentences to run consecutively.

What the court heard

Salil Korambayil worked as a trainee colorectal and vascular surgeon in hospitals between 2016 and 2021. He met both victims on social media before attacking them in their own homes.

One of the rapes took place in North Devon in August 2020. The other two offences, relating to a second victim, happened in Cornwall in March 2021.

“Forced back into the darkest period of my life”

Both victims have been praised for their fortitude in remaining engaged throughout the investigation and the court process.

In an updated victim impact statement, one of the women described how the 2023 verdict had brought an end to a period of her life haunted by flashbacks, nightmares and triggers. She said that being able to take comfort in knowing Salil Korambayil was in prison had allowed her to begin to move forward and heal.

The appeal and retrial, she said, forced her back into the darkest period of her life.

“The distress I described in my first statement has not been left in the past. It has been reopened, revisited and prolonged, most acutely through the two and a half hours of detailed, relentless and sexually graphic cross examination, in front of a room full of strangers.”

She described watching the world around her move on while she battled the aftermath of what had been done to her. Addressing Salil Korambayil directly, she added: “Although I will likely still be living with the consequences of your actions, long after your sentence has ended, I am grateful that I have been afforded a level of justice that many do not.”

Police praise the victims’ courage

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey, who led the investigation under the name Operation Humilis, praised the two women for going through the trial process a second time.

“Their courage, resilience and perseverance is a testament to who they are,” he said. “I am extremely grateful for their continued positive engagement over the past five years.”

He thanked the investigation team, including colleagues at the CPS and other partners, who he said had worked hard and stayed focused to reach this point. He added that Devon and Cornwall Police remained committed to encouraging and supporting any victim of a sexual or abusive crime to come forward.

“We will always actively investigate any such crime and seek to bring those responsible to justice,” he said.

Support and how to report

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.

Reports can be made through the Devon and Cornwall Police website or by calling 101. Advice and support are also offered by partner agencies:

• National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999
• Devon and Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC): 0300 303 4626