Taxi driver sexually assaulted teenage girl as payment for fareA taxi driver who sexually assaulted a teenager as payment for her fare said he thought it was fine to do so because she had smiled at him.
Mark Smith was on his first shift when he drove the girl to a quiet rural road and groped her after telling her she could pay with "a kiss and a cuddle".
Smith admitted he was then planning to overcharge the terrified girl for her fare in order to pocket the excess cash.
But the 18-year-old fled from his cab and hid in the bushes before reporting the incident to police.
Appearing at Perth Sheriff Court on Thursday, Smith was found guilty of the sex attack.
He was placed on the sex offenders register and sentence was deferred by Sheriff Valerie Johnston for the preparation of social background reports.
Smith told Perth Sheriff Court: "I initially said to the girl 'don't worry about counting your money, a kiss and a cuddle will do'. She smiled at me and certainly never refused in any way.
"I moved towards her without any sort of attack or threat and she never tried to push me away and never said anything, shouted anything or screamed anything.
"I moved my upper half, going in for a cuddle. I put my arm around her neck and put my hand on her right thigh. When she gave me the initial smile that was my signal that she was more than willing to give me a cuddle.
"That smile from her when I suggested a kiss and a cuddle suggested she was willing to consent. The intent was to take her home but she was out the car so quickly.
"It was just a moment of madness really. It was completely out of character. I don't know what came across me. I fully accept that was the wrong thing to do.
"A taxi driver is meant to be responsible and get her home safely. If she hadn't smiled there was no way I would have. That was the only reason I had gone towards her."
Smith said the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had initially told him she might not have enough money to pay the fare back to her Perthshire home.
Smith said he estimated the fare at between £9 and £12 but said he planned to charge her £15 and would only declare £10 to his company, keeping the rest for himself.
The 40-year-old, who has a young family of his own, admitted he was old enough to be his victim's father and said: "It's had a major impact on my personal life."
The court heard he lied repeatedly during a police interview and denied anything had happened until eventually breaking down and telling officers he had groped the girl in his cab.
Sheriff Johnston said: "Her reaction was dramatic. She hid in the bushes afterwards to keep out of his way. I do not accept there was any reasonable belief this girl consented."
source:
http://news.stv.tv/tayside/1323994-taxi ... t-of-fare/
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