R. Kelly ‘engaged to alleged victim Joycelyn Savage’

Convicted sex trafficker R Kelly reportedly got engaged to one of his alleged victims Joycelyn Savage before his sentencing.

The singer was given 30 years in prison at the end of last month.

Ms Savage, 26, is in a relationship with the singer and moved out of her family home in Chicago at 17 to be with him but her family have accused him of “brainwashing” their daughter.

In a letter to a judge obtained by the TMZ website, Ms Savage revealed they are engaged and asked for a more lenient sentence in his case.

“My name is Joycelyn Savage, and I'm Robert Kelly's fiancé," she wrote, according to the website.

“I'm writing this letter in support of Robert in advance of his sentencing, so I can explain to the court that I'm not the victim that the government has portrayed me to be."

In writing, Ms Savage reportedly called their relationship “amazing” and the “best thing that’s ever happened to me”.

Gerald Griggs, an attorney for Ms Savage’s family, told TMZ the engagement was not known to her family and said relatives “strongly doubts” the engagement.

However, he added relatives had not had contact with Ms Savage since she left the family home to be with R. Kelly.

Ms Savage has previously defended the singer.

She said: “I am truly tired of all the lies that they are saying about the man we love so much, and our best friend R. Kelly.

“It has been said that I have left him and he has abused me and all kinds of nonsense. I have said before, none of it is true.

“It is a shame how they are treating him, it is so wrong on so many levels and he does not deserve this.”

The musician was convicted by a federal jury in New York in September last year.

A judge ruled he had lured “young fans into your orbit” and used his fame and fortune to “prey on the young, the vulnerable, and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification”.

He was convicted on multiple counts of racketeering, with the charges relating to bribery and forced labour.

The Standard has been unable to reach Kelly or Savage for comment.