An international university student committed a deeply upsetting crime inside a female undergraduate’s private living space, an incident later described in court as “disgusting and selfish.”
The person responsible, identified as Udkarsh Yadav, was a civil engineering student and the son of a well-known Indian businessperson. He gained unauthorized access to a first-year student’s bedroom at Northumbria University’s student housing.
According to Daily Express, an administrative mistake gave him broad access to multiple rooms using a gym keycard that had been incorrectly programmed. The incident occurred when Yadav, later saying he was “overcome with desire,” used this improperly set-up keycard to enter the victim’s room. Once inside, he performed a sexual act on her bedsheets and several stuffed toys, including Jellycat teddy bears, leaving behind a “white substance.”
The female student, who had just returned from a holiday break, made the disturbing discovery in early January. She noticed books knocked onto the floor and a dried white substance covering her duvet and her collection of stuffed animals. The victim’s bedroom also had personal photos of herself on the walls, which made her feel even more violated and distressed upon realizing a stranger had done such a thing in her private space.
Student charged with committing ‘disgusting’ acts in another student’s room
Her first reaction was to flee to a friend’s place, as the idea of an unknown man entering her room and defiling it left her deeply disturbed—especially since this was her first time living away from home.
Authorities quickly began investigating the break-in. Access records from the university housing system pointed to Yadav as the likely intruder. Further forensic testing, including DNA evidence collected from the victim’s room, confirmed his involvement.
The case was heard at Newcastle Crown Court, with Jennifer Coxon leading the prosecution. Yadav, who was eighteen at the time of the crime and had no prior criminal record, was charged with burglary with intent to cause criminal damage. The judge, Mr. Recorder Mark McKone KC, said, “I don’t think I have ever come across anything like this before. It really is hard to imagine what was going through the defendant’s mind when he did this.”
NEWCASTLE: University student, Udkarsh Yadav, 18, who broke into a female student's room while she was away & m*sturbated over her bed & teddies, has walked free
— Emily Wilding Davison
Yadav said he was "overcome with desire"
He's completed his 1st year & uni is now 'considering' his student visa pic.twitter.com/op0Hdoe7Ks(@Wommando) June 18, 2025
The judge stressed how much emotional harm Yadav’s actions had caused the victim, especially the distress of knowing he had masturbated while looking at her personal photos on the wall. He called the act undeniably “disgusting and selfish” and emphasized the lasting trauma it would cause.
When first questioned by police, Yadav refused to speak. However, Coxon said, “He was re-interviewed and the DNA evidence was put to him. He admitted the offence, stating he was overcome with desire and he was aware that the gym cards were set up incorrectly, which allowed access to all rooms.”
When sentencing Yadav, Mr. Recorder McKone KC gave him a fourteen-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete rehabilitation requirements, perform two hundred hours of unpaid community service, and pay £117 in compensation. This money was meant to cover the cost of replacing the three Jellycat stuffed toys and the soiled bedsheets.
Yadav’s lawyer, Shada Mellor, told the court about his background, mentioning that his father owned a construction business in India. She said Yadav had ambitions to achieve great success and make a global impact, so he had chosen to study in the United Kingdom. Mellor argued that his behavior during the incident was completely out of character and partly due to a “lack of maturity.” After the incident, but before his conviction, Yadav was moved out of university housing and had to find another place to live.
