A Golders Green rabbi has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman who had sought his religious guidance, following a trial at Harrow Crown Court.
Aaron Halpern, also known as Chaim Halpern, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault on Thursday 12 November. The 68-year-old denied the charges. He has been released on bail and is due to be sentenced at the same court on 12 January 2027.
The jury returned guilty verdicts by a majority of 11 to one. Halpern’s legal team declined to comment on whether he planned to appeal.
The woman had approached Halpern for advice on Jewish law in June 2022. The court heard that she met him privately in a study at premises above a synagogue in Golders Green, north London. She was in her 20s at the time of the offences and cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Prosecutors said Halpern touched her leg and later touched her breasts and groin over her clothing. The court also heard that he gave her £100 and told her to keep quiet about what had happened. Those details were part of the prosecution case put before the jury.
Evidence heard at trial
Halpern denied sexually assaulting the woman. His defence accepted that he had hugged her but maintained that he had not assaulted her. The defence challenged her account and suggested that her dealings with Halpern might have been motivated by money. Prosecutors rejected that suggestion.
Jurors heard extracts from telephone conversations recorded after the woman returned to Israel. The court heard that the recordings included discussions of sexual matters and that a forensic analyst had concluded that the voice in samples matched Halpern’s. The prosecutor also questioned his initial denial to police that he was the person heard in the recordings.
The trial had been delayed several times. It had been due to take place in November 2024, before the jury eventually heard the case at Harrow Crown Court.
Police investigation
The Metropolitan Police became aware of the allegations after they were broadcast on Israeli television in November 2022. The woman initially did not want to report what had happened.
Detectives worked with charities and community partners in Britain and Israel to help her engage with the investigation. In February 2023, she identified herself to officers in London and gave a video-recorded interview. Specialist officers supported her throughout the investigation.
Investigators gathered witness evidence and examined telephone communications. Halpern was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on 9 March 2023 and again on 21 March 2024 as enquiries continued. He was subsequently charged with two counts of sexual assault.
Detective Constable Joshua Dwyer, who led the investigation, praised the woman for coming forward and giving evidence. He said Halpern had exploited the trust placed in him as a religious leader and counsellor, and described the offences as an abuse of that trust.
The force has encouraged anyone who believes they may have been affected by Halpern’s behaviour to come forward. Information can be reported to police on 101, quoting CAD4462/12NOV26, or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Confidential help is available through the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 for people aged 16 and over in England and Wales. Jewish Women’s Aid offers support to Jewish women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence on 0808 801 0500.
The guilty verdicts conclude the trial, but they are not a sentence. The sentence will be decided at the January hearing. The woman’s identity remains protected by law, and victims of sexual offences are entitled to lifelong anonymity.
