Taxi Driver Online

Gloucester taxi driver avoids jail for sexually assaulting woman who fell asleep in his cab

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/n ... il-9669694



A taxi driver from Gloucester has avoid jailed for sexually assaulting woman while he was at work. The 49-year-old was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault at Gloucester Crown Court on July 30.

Taranjit Singh, known as Tony, has been banned from driving a taxi for ten years following the sentencing. The court heard that the victim used Singh's taxi service several times before the attack and he had given her his personal mobile number.

In November 2021, despite being off duty, Singh agreed to pick up the woman from Gloucester and take her to Tewkesbury, breaching his licence conditions. The woman, in her 20s, fell asleep during the journey. Singh then drove to an industrial estate, and the victim awoke to find Singh digitally penetrating her vagina and touching her breast.

She asked Singh to stop and tried to push his arm away, but he continued to sexually assault her, telling her that she was enjoying it.

The court was shown footage that the victim had secretly recorded on her mobile during previous rides in Singh's taxi. In one clip, Singh is heard propositioning the woman for sexual favours, to which she firmly declines.

Singh, from Estcourt Close in Gloucester, denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed he may have accidentally touched the woman's breast while assisting with her seatbelt. He further claimed the woman guided his hand into her trousers.

On October 18, Singh received a 24-month suspended sentence at Gloucester Crown Court. Additionally, he must register as a sex offender for ten years and is banned from working as a taxi driver or in any paid driving capacity involving passengers for the same duration due to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The judge ordered Singh to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, participate in a rehabilitation programme for up to 30 days, and pay £4,380 towards prosecution costs.

Post-sentencing, the victim said: "While this incident only lasted a short time that night, it has had a major long-term effect on me mentally.

"I would urge anyone who has been through similar to contact the police. I felt heard, seen and believed, and I had great support throughout the process. I'm so glad I reported to hopefully help stop the same happening to others."

Detective Constable Annabel Brittain has praised a victim's courage after reporting a distressing incident, saying: "The victim is to be commended for reporting this distressing incident as, by having the strength to support the investigation, she has helped keep others safe while achieving justice for herself.

"As she read out her victim impact statement to the court, it was clear how much she has been affected by what happened, and I am extremely glad she says she has felt well supported by police throughout.

"I hope this conviction is reassurance to others that when such concerning incidents are reported, we will be as thorough and relentless as possible in securing all available evidence to bring offenders to justice."

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IDFIMH

Not sure what that means, but I'd guess he doesn't have an operator's licence, but took a booking directly via his moby.


So she'd secretly filmed him propositioning her several times previously, yet she still phones his mobile number...

(Actually, although she secretly filmed him several times, he only propositioned here once. All looks very odd, though )

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

hopefully the licensing authorities save maybe Glasgow will ban him for life

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Not sure you can ban anyone for life, but I doubt anyone will license him for at least 20+ years.

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IDFIMH

Wee twist in this tale, but hardly surprising, as Sussex's original thread title suggests


Search is on for sex attack taxi driver who fled the UK after walking free from court

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/n ... er-9993366

Taranjit Singh, known as Tony, must now serve four years in prison

A warped taxi driver who sexually assaulted a young woman who had fallen asleep in his car has been given a custodial jail sentence, after an initial suspended sentence allowed him to walk free from court. Taranjit Singh, also known as Tony, is believed to have fled the country after being sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years, in October 2024.

The initial sentence also included 200 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation programme for up to 30 days and and order to pay prosecution costs of £4,380. This has now been judged unduly lenient and Singh will be locked up for four years, assuming he can be found and brought back to the UK.

Singh, formerly of Gloucester, was working as a taxi driver in November 2021 when he picked up a woman and, instead of taking her home, drove her to an industrial estate where he carried out a brutal sexual assault on her. The now 50-year-old pervert was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and was initially sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on October 18, 2024.

The Attorney General's Office referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The court agreed the sentence was unduly lenient and on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Singh’s sentence was increased to four years' imprisonment which he must serve behind bars.

Singh will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. He is also subject to an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim. He has also been banned from being a taxi driver for 10 years.

A warrant for Singh’s arrest was issued by a judge the day after the Court of Appeal hearing. However during this time Singh is believed to have left the country. Efforts are being made to find him, Gloucestershire Police said.

Detective Constable Annabel Brittain said: “We work tirelessly to ensure individuals like Singh are put before the courts and victims receive the justice they deserve. The sentence is ultimately a matter for the judge to determine and out of our hands, but I am pleased to see that Singh's sentence has now been increased to reflect the severity of his offences. This is welcomed by the victim and I hope too this is reassuring to members of the public while deterring offenders.

“Singh’s disappearance is cowardly but I am hopeful that he will soon be located so he can begin his sentence behind bars. I would urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted to report it to police and be reassured that they will be supported and that their reports will be thoroughly and sensitively investigated."

Anita Hudson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service South West said: “We would like to thank the victim for her courage and bravery in supporting this prosecution, despite the significant impact that this incident has had on her.

"We felt strongly that the suspended sentence imposed following the trial did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence or the significant impact upon the victim.

"The case was therefore referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme, resulting in the sentence being reviewed and replaced with one of four years imprisonment. We are pleased that we were able to deliver justice for the victim in this case.

“We want every victim of sexual assault to have the confidence to come forward to report abuse, in the knowledge that support is available and that the police and CPS are committed to securing justice.”

good luck with that !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Guessing the original judge is not looking at progressing his judicial career.

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IDFIMH