United Kingdom, England, East London:  A routine device repair at a local shop uncovered serious criminal activity involving Vruj Patel and his brother Kishan, leading to a 22-year prison sentence for Vruj in the United Kingdom.

The repair technician initially treated the device like any other brought in for service—cracked screen, corrupted data, or a routine fix. He logged the device, placed it on the workbench, and continued his work.

However, when he tried to access the device, it did not function like a typical malfunctioning phone. Hidden folders and locked files began to appear. Behind multiple layers of encryption, disturbing videos were discovered, revealing a pattern of harmful behaviour.

The low-resolution clips showed a young girl clearly distressed. In one recording, the face of a man briefly appeared at the end—enough to prompt an investigation that would expose years of concealed offences.

The device belonged to Kishan Patel. The man in the videos was his younger brother, Vruj. That chance discovery in a repair shop in 2024 revealed a long-hidden record of criminal activity.

The investigation revealed Vruj Patel’s double life: outwardly a young man from East London, secretly engaging in illegal acts targeting children and women, recording his actions.

On Tuesday, 26-year-old Vruj Patel was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting to multiple serious offences dating back to 2018. His brother, 31-year-old Kishan Patel, received a 15-month jail term for possessing illegal material involving children.

The case emerged when Greater Manchester Police received a report on February 1 regarding harmful material found on a device submitted for repair. The Metropolitan Police launched a full investigation.

Authorities seized the devices, and upon reviewing the footage, identified Vruj Patel when his face appeared briefly in one video. Further inquiries uncovered additional evidence, including recordings showing illegal acts against an adult woman after a university event and incidents involving voyeurism of a young girl.

Patel was admitted to multiple offences involving minors and adults, possession of illegal images, and voyeurism.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, placed on the UK’s sex offenders’ register for life, and subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order along with lifelong notification requirements.

Detective Sergeant Rob Blant, who led the investigation, described Patel as “a cowardly and opportunistic offender preying on vulnerable victims.”

“The risk he posed to women and children is reflected in his sentence,” Blant added. “This case highlights the detailed work by Met detectives to protect victims of the most serious offences and safeguard the public.”

Kishan Patel was found guilty of producing and possessing hundreds of illegal images involving children and received a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order alongside his prison term.

Police stated that Vruj Patel’s offences began in 2018 and may have continued more recently. Detectives are appealing for additional victims to come forward, especially anyone who might have been under Patel’s care as a child.

Victims have received specialist support throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the police.