Taxi Driver Online

'Taxi driver sexually assaulted me after 30th birthday night out in Southport'



59-year-old defendant denies woman's claims as trial opens at Liverpool Crown Court

A 30th birthday ended in disaster after a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in the back of a taxi on her way home.

Ian Grassick, 59, of Staveley Road, Southport, is pleading not guilty to the charge.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today (Wednesday) that the woman had been out celebrating her 30th birthday at Spiga restaurant on Bold Street in Southport on February 3.

At around 9pm the party broke up and the woman and her friend decided to carry on drinking at the Fox and Goose pub on Cable Street after her husband agreed to take the woman’s 12-year-old son home.

The pair continued to drink several pints at the pub, after already consuming a large amount of alcohol, before leaving around 2am. The victim’s friend noticed a dark coloured saloon taxi nearby the pub and asked if the car was available.

The driver said it was and the two women got in. The victim’s friend was dropped off first and then it was on the victim’s street that the alleged assault took place.

Geoffery Lowe, prosecuting said: “It is alleged that Mr Grassick then got into the back of the cab and put his hands down the front of the victim’s trousers and touched her inappropriately.

“The woman then got out of the taxi and went to her home, where she called the police, her friend, and two taxi companies.”

The victim said: “I was looking in my bag for money after the cab stopped and then I looked up and the driver was climbing over into the back seat and he put his hands in my trousers as he was astride me.

“It all happened very quickly and I froze and then managed to jump out of the taxi and ran home.”

Mr Grassick’s version of events was dramatically different to the victim’s however and he maintained that it was she who instigated the physical contact.

Mr Lowe continued: “Mr Grassick said in police interview that him and the victim chatted on the journey to her home and that the pair smoked cigarettes in the car, while chatting about the victim’s birthday, her husband, and the alcohol she had consumed.

“Mr Grassick said that she leaned forward to shake his hand and then she started to snog him, it was during this that he put his hands on her legs, but he denied touching her inappropriately and putting his hands down her trousers.

“After the kiss, she left the car and he drove away thinking that nothing untoward had taken place.”

The case continues.

source: http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/ ... er-9710525

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Southport taxi driver found not guilty of sexual assault



Ian Grassick, 59, was found not guilty by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court


A Southport taxi driver was found not guilty of sexual assault today (Friday) leading to tears of joy from his family in the courtroom.

Ian Charles Grassick, 59, of Stavely Road was found unanimously not guilty by a jury in less that half an hour of deliberations.

Over the three days of his trial Grassick repeatedly denied claims that he touched the woman inappropriately, after he picked her up following her birthday night out at the Fox and Goose.

The complainant stated that Grassick climbed over into the back of the cab and touched her on February 4 of this year, but he resolutely denied this, saying that it was she who instigated a kiss and physical contact.

Grassick has no previous criminal convictions and the court heard about his many medical issues, including diabetes, gall bladder removal and mobility issues.

Forensic tests also revealed that Grassick’s DNA was not present on the complainants trousers or knickers.

The court heard from Claire Wilson, an occupational therapist, who conducted an assessment of Mr Grassick's mobility on June 30.

She said: "I didn't get the impression he was exaggerating his lack of mobility. He was keen to show me what he could do and he tried to carry out every movement I asked him to perform, even if it caused him pain.

"He could have moved into the back of the cab but his movements would have been slow and considered, he would have found it extremely difficult. It would be very hard for him to get out of that position."

Peter Killen defending said: "The complainant's evidence has changed every time she has spoken to police, during the 999 call, her interview and when officers attended her house she has added another detail, it is not consistent.

"She maintains that Mr Grassick pounced on her, but then in the 999 call she states that they had a cigarette together and there was some conversation, these two statements can not live in the same world as each other.

"Mr Grassick is telling the truth, at every opportunity his evidence has remained consistent, he fully co-operated with police and he knew things about the defendant such as her job, her husband and the fact she had been out celebrating her birthday. He could only have known these things if they had had a conversation."

Geoffrey Lowe, prosecuting, said: "Mr Grassick knew the complainant was the worse for drink when she got in that car and he took advantage of her in her vulnerable state.

"When the complainant spoke to the police to report the assault she was telling the truth. The details may escape her memory at this time but when she made that 999 call she was clear that she had been assaulted."

source: http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/ ... ot-9724523

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin