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Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
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Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women


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'PREDATORY': Asif Iqbal

A NEWPORT taxi driver was jailed for 12 years after raping two women.

Asif Iqbal, 42, of Alice Street, described as a “predator” by his victims yesterday, wept in the dock as he was jailed.

Judge David Wynn Morgan, sitting at Cardiff Crown Court, said Iqbal, who admitted two counts of rape and one count of perverting the course of justice, subjected his victims to degradation and humiliation, leaving them both traumatised.

He told him: “Dry your eyes, Asif Iqbal, this court does not feel sorry for you.”

He added Iqbal had abused the trust women place in taxi drivers “for the satisfaction of your sexual gratification”.

Iqbal also received an extended licence period.

After he was jailed, his first victim said: “Why should we feel sorry for him? He’s the predator – we’re just the victims.”

Both women told the Argus they were relieved the case was over, and wanted to issue a warning to other women not to get into cabs on their own.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees told the court Iqbal picked up the first victim from an address and that she was very drunk.

She remembered hearing the central locking system click, and then remembered the driver dropping her off but was immediately fearful she had been raped by the driver.

The woman became distrusting of taxi drivers and said she always feels dirty.

The second victim had been in Newport city centre with a friend and got into the taxi to go home.

Ms Rees said the driver started touching the victim’s thigh and drove her to a secluded lane. She said the woman was speechless with fear and sobbed throughout her ordeal.

John Dye, for Iqbal, said he was a man of previous good character and has shown some remorse.

Iqbal’s wife, Hamida Akhtar, admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Akhtar, 41, of Spring Road, Birmingham, was sentenced to six months in prison after she made calls and texts to Iqbal’s second victim.

The court heard the woman also received calls and texts from Akhtar trying to persuade her to withdraw the complaint against her husband in return for money.

Jennet Treharne, for Akhtar, said she committed her crime out of a sense of duty to her children and husband.

Judge Morgan told her: “Your misfortune was to be married to a very, very bad man.”

source: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9 ... two_women/
Author:  Sussex [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
:sad:
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
even his mrs was trying to cover for him :sad:
Author:  Doom [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
MY GOD I'M SO SHOCKED, not another Asian rapsit surely, and they're such nice ppl and never abuse women (a lot don't but a lot do, point taken now put yer card away)
Author:  Doom [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
captain cab wrote:
even his mrs was trying to cover for him :sad:



Probably didn't have a choice, probably threatened her if she didn't lie for him, you gotta understand them to actually believe the [edited by admin] they pull to get out of things, and it's easy to spot the good one from the bad one, the bad ones can't help but make you feel uneasy and suspicious, where as a good one simply ouzes nothing more than any other normal person would, btw the beards are a status symbol, like a gang tat, the longer it is the more you should beware, and the eyes give them away everytime (oops look I did it again, I dared to say what everyone thinks but is frightened to say) card pullers stand down, this like all my messages speak for both sides, that's opinion not racism just incase anyone hasn't been clever enough to work it out, I could tell you a whole lot more but whats the point everyone is conditioned to make excuses for one and throw the book at the other, pleasently this wasn't the case for this one, one less danger off the streets for 7-8 years after parole.
Author:  cabby john [ Tue May 01, 2012 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
I was taught to never judge a book by it's cover! whilst there is some merit in that saying and I have been wrong once or twice......................I work in our game on the opposite side of that teaching, and you will not go far wrong.

The alert that was recently put out by the police for a WHITE man who was wanted for a double murder would put that into perspective.................the guy just looks BAD, almost to the point that nature is telling us to watch out.
Author:  rambo [ Tue May 01, 2012 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
No change there then................
Author:  wee eddie [ Tue May 01, 2012 6:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
It seems to me that Mohamed had a good point when he recommended that all Asian Women wear the Hijab, Chador, Niqab or Burqa.

I am not sure that I have my statistics correct, or that this Forum does not hight-light rapes by Caucasian Taxi Drivers (which I know happens), but statistically speaking, there appears to be a section of the Asian Community that is unable to control them-self in the presence of the opposite sex.
Author:  bloodnock [ Tue May 01, 2012 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Quote:
It seems to me that Mohamed had a good point when he recommended that all Asian Women wear the Hijab, Chador, Niqab or Burqa.


Better advice might have been to wear a Five bar, double lock, Crotch gate...its about the only thing that's gonna keep some guys from trespassing over female lawns.. #-o
Author:  captain cab [ Tue May 01, 2012 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
wee eddie wrote:
there appears to be a section of the Asian Community that is unable to control them-self in the presence of the opposite sex.



It does appear that way......some stats would be nice as you suggest, in some areas there are more asian drivers than 'white', therefore you'd natuarally expect the cases to go in favour of the higher percentage?

Its a difficult one to work out to be honest......the internet doesnt go back say 40 years....when drivers were predominantly white to give a comparison.....although its fair to presume these instances did occur.

I personally believe the areas where the instances occur are areas with a predominantly asian cab work force.....the instances in my (predominantly white anglo english) area....certainly suggest higher instances with white drivers of this type of allegation.
Author:  Doom [ Wed May 02, 2012 2:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Hang the f'in lot of them white or black, they harm women and should be de-balled imo.
Author:  Nidge2 [ Wed May 02, 2012 5:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Asif Iqbal

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Author:  captain cab [ Wed May 02, 2012 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Newport taxi rapist may have more victims - police


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STRINGENT CHECKS: Newport Hackney Taxi Driver Association chairman Lionel Morris, right, with secretary Malik Haseeb Ahsan

A NEWPORT rapist may have committed other similar offences according to police and they have urged any possible victims to come forward.

Asif Iqbal, 42, of Alice Street, was jailed for 12 years at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday after admitting raping two women while working as a taxi driver in the area and perverting the course of justice.

Speaking after the sentencing, DC Laura Thomas, from Gwent Police, said: “This man may have committed other similar offences and I would welcome anyone else who believes they were a victim to come forward. We have specially trained officers who will be available for people to talk to.”

Iqbal was a licensed taxi driver in the city and Newport City Council said it suspended his licence as soon as it became aware of the allegations.

A spokeswoman for the council said its licensing committee will nowformally revoke his licence at the earliest opportunity.

She said: “As the judge said, Asif Iqbal betrayed the trust put in him by his passengers and we utterly condemn his despicable behaviour.

Wewould like to extend our sympathy to the victims of these horrendous crimes.”

The spokeswoman said all drivers licensed by the council have been fully vetted, including the completion of a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure form.

Lionel Morris, chairman of Newport Hackney Taxi Driver Association, said there is a difference between the way private hire cars and Hackney taxi drivers should operate.

He said: “Unfortunately this criminal activity still gives the average people in the town a bad view of taxi drivers because they do not know the way the system works.”

The association’s secretary, Malik Haseeb Ahsan, said Iqbal was not a member of the association.

He said: “Newport Hackney drivers don’t want this type of behaviour.

“I feel ashamed of his actions. This one person has given the whole trade a bad name.”



South Wales Argus: EDITORIAL COMMENT: Appeal to victims

IT is frightening to think that the Newport taxi driver convicted this week of two rapes could have attacked more women.

Yesterday Gwent police said they believed Asif Iqbal may have more victims, although it is unclear what is leading them to this conclusion.

Even more worrying is that Iqbal was a licensed driver.

We often report on the warnings to women about getting into unlicensed vehicles and the dangers that can involve.

However, in this case, Iqbal was licensed and the women who got in to his taxi should have had nothing to fear.

Could it have been avoided?

It’s hard to know how when a man who passes police and council checks strikes like this.

Are there any lessons to be learned? The only way women could ever know they are safe is by travelling with a companion, but that is not always possible or practical.

For now, Iqbal is behind bars and unable to pose any more danger to women.

We would urge any other woman who may have been attacked to come forward.

If he has attacked again we would hope his sentence would be extended.

In reality he will serve about half of the 12 years given to him.

While this case is unusual, it is a timely reminder to all women to always ensure they are as safe as they can be when travelling alone.

source: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9 ... ___police/
Author:  captain cab [ Mon May 07, 2012 10:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Newport taxi driver rape victim's 'hell'



"TWO years from hell" is how a victim of the Newport taxi rapist described the last 24 months, after attemping suicide twice because of the ordeal. She spoke exclusively to CHRIS WOOD.

WHEN taxi driver rapist Asif Iqbal wept in the dock after being handed a 12-year sentence, his first victim could contain her anger no longer.

After the Cardiff crown court hearing, she told the Argus: "Why should we feel sorry for him? He's the predator - we're just the victims."

Former taxi driver Iqbal, 42, of Alice Street, Newport, was last week sentenced to 12 years for the rape of two women he picked up while working in the city - one of them gay.

What had not been read out to the court were details of the two-year ordeal she had been through since Iqbal raped her in his cab.

But the brave woman told the Argus of the devastating effect the attack had on her life, saying it made her feel "dirty" and "ashamed", led to her showering five times a day, giving up her job, move house and trying to take her own life twice.

The woman, in her 30s, said that on the night of the attack she was "drunk as a skunk". She said after an argument with her partner, she consumed a bottle of vodka and went into Newport city centre at around 12.50pm.

She visited various bars and the last time the city’s CCTV’s pick her up is walking down Stow Hill in the early hours - she believes minutes before she got into Iqbal’s taxi.

She remembers nothing of the actual rape, but says chillingly: "I remember vaguely him putting the locks down and then getting in the back with me".

"If I had been sober, I would have killed him," she added.

The next morning the woman woke up and had a very vague recollection and was thinking "did it happen?"

She said: "I’m gay and haven’t been with a man for years, so had a feeling that something had happened. My partner urged me to go to the police, so I didn’t have a shower in case they wanted to do tests."

The woman was taken to the sexual offences referral centre in Risca, where she was examined and her worst fears were confirmed.

She said she was "angry, upset, humiliated and ashamed of myself", with STI tests and having to take the morning after pill "really traumatic in themselves".

The next few months then became a "constant battle", as she tried to remember what happened.

"I couldn’t sleep, I was thinking about it all the time," she said. "I wanted to remember so I could give evidence, but in another way was glad I couldn’t. I couldn’t get it out of my head."

It left her unable to cope at work, so she quit her job, slumping into a pit of depression. Counselling and anti-depressants didn’t work and she tried to take her life twice.

She said the year it took to catch her attacker and the further year it took to bring him to justice were ‘two years from hell".

The woman added: "Now I know he’s behind bars, I can try and move on and am planning a nice holiday with my partner. I try and forget it, but it never goes away. It’s always there."

She said the 12 years handed to Iqbal for the rapes and perverting the course of justice, are "not enough" and said angrily: "I wish I could have just five minutes in a room with him".

Gwent Police said the former taxi driver could have committed similar offences on other women, a view his victim agrees with, urging them to come forward.

She said "I’m convinced he attacked other women as well", adding: "Don’t be scared, the police are there for you. Be brave and think of others it may have happened to as well"

She is also calling for all taxis to be fitted with cameras.

She said:"If all taxis had cameras, it would make it safer, not just for women against rape, but for other incidents like abuse and attacks."

source: http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9 ... _s__hell_/
Author:  edders23 [ Mon May 07, 2012 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Newport taxi driver jailed for raping two women
Hopefully he will now suffer a living hell like his victims !
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