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Taxi driver cleared of rape says life has been 'ruined'
A taxi driver from Aldershot has been cleared of raping a male teenager he was driving home from a night out, after a four-day trial. The verdict was delivered on August 5 after the jurors had deliberated over whether Mohammed Salam, 63, had attacked the 18-year-old passenger on September 8 last year.
The defendant, of Morland Road, was charged with sexual assault and rape by penetration of the mouth and his trial began on August 2. Allegations were made by the complainant that Mr Salam pulled his head into his lap as they sat in the parked car at Frimley railway station. The teenager also claimed that the defendant had grabbed his hand and placed it on his crotch while he was driving.
Mr Salam lost his job following the claims and this week told the News & Mail that his ‘life had been ruined’ by the allegations. “I lost my job, my car and my wife after the allegations,” he said. “I have had to borrow money and I’m struggling to pay for my grandchildren’s school fees and my medicines, as I am a diabetic.”
Asked whether he hoped to continue working as a taxi driver, he said: “That depends on the council. They told me to come back after the court case but I haven’t got my licence back yet.”
On the night in question, the complainant flagged down the taxi on the A30 at about 3am after leaving Tru nightclub Camberley, and was told he could have a lift despite having no money. The defendant said the teenager had become aggressive towards him on the journey and he had parked at the railway station only because he guessed there would be CCTV cameras there to film any potential assault on him.
Mr Salam said he feared for his safety, having been robbed and had his nose broken by passengers in a previous incident. In court, Caroline Carberry, prosecuting, questioned why Mr Salam had not contacted the police about the events. He responded: “That was the mistake I made. He did not break my nose, my life was spared, so why would I waste police time? I did not want to go to the police and that is why I have ended up in court.”
Doubt was cast on the story of events told by the complainant in court, and defence counsel Rupert Hallows asked him to explain his admittance in his police interview that he liked to steal other people’s drinks during nights out and had hitch-hiked home in the past.
The complainant admitted he had searched Mr Salam’s car for money while he stopped for petrol, claiming it was to allow him to get another taxi. Mr Hallows suggested to the complainant that he had not been in any discomfort in the taxi, as he could have got out of the car at any time as the doors were unlocked.
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