Rogue cabbie jailed for Christmas Eve rape of Gillingham clubber
Friday, August 03, 2012
A clubber raped by a rogue taxi driver on Christmas Eve has warned women to stick together and use reputable cab companies on nights out.
The woman was heading home from a nightclub in Gillingham when she was attacked by cabbie Nathan Gifford after he helped her into a taxi he had borrowed from a friend.
Nathan Gifford was today jailed for eight years for raping a woman on Christmas Eve following a night out in Gillingham
After raping his victim, the 44-year-old abandoned her and she was eventually found by two men in an alleyway near the Medway Maritime Hospital.
Gifford – who continued to deny responsibility for the crime throughout his trial – was found guilty of rape on July 5 and today at Maidstone Crown Court he was jailed for eight years.
Speaking about her ordeal, the 25-year-old said that she still feels unable to go for a night out.
“When I think of him I feel sick,” she said. “That Christmas was horrible but my family were very supportive, they kept me going.
“Girls should be able to out but I would say always use a licensed reputable taxi firm and when you can go out in a large group. I will go out again but right now I am not ready.”
Gifford, of Coleshall Close in Maidstone, had spent the evening picking up unofficial fares and came across his victim after she had been separated from a friend.
She had left the nightclub in Canterbury Street at around 2.35am on Christmas Eve and shortly after Gifford helped her into his borrowed car. Police say he passed himself off as a professional driver so he could prey on vulnerable women.
After the rape was reported officers from Kent Police used automatic number plate recognition technology and CCTV evidence to track down the attacker.
Gifford was swiftly arrested at 7.20pm on Christmas Eve and was charged with rape late on Christmas Day.
Detective Inspector Lee Whitehead, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Gifford gave the impression of being a professional taxi driver and then preyed on the victim whilst she was in a vulnerable state.
“The victim probably felt that she was safe when she stepped into the rogue taxi driver’s vehicle but he took full advantage of the situation.
“Gifford denied the offence throughout the trial, which resulted in the victim having to suffer the ordeal of being cross-examined in court. She was incredibly brave to come forward and support this prosecution. Her actions have prevented someone else having to go through what she has.”
The 25-year-old thanked her family and police officers for support in bringing her attacker to justice.
She said: “This has been a horrible experience and every now and then I thought that I couldn't go through with going to court.
“I didn't want to pull out because everyone had worked so hard, the police were great. When he was found guilty it was a huge relief I felt that justice had been done.”
Source; http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Rogue-cabbi ... story.html