Taxi Driver Online

Leeds taxi driver faces 1997 rape charges

A Leeds taxi driver who allegedly raped a teenage girl 11 years ago fled the city and changed his name by deed poll.

Leeds Crown Court heard that police arrested and interviewed Nawab Khan, 61, on the day he allegedly raped a 19 years old and he appeared at Leeds magistrates court the next day.

He was bailed to return to the magistrates court later in Oct 1997, but he did not show up and moved away from the area the following month and changed his name by deed poll from Fazal Elhi to Nawab Khan the jury was told.

Prosecutor Sophie Drake said Khan was traced to an address in Doncaster and arrested and interviewed in August this year.

The court heard a passport found in his flat showed he had not only changed his name but also his date of birth.

The court heard Khan's alleged victim had been drinking at a free bar event in Horsforth and was drunk and incapable of giving consent to sex.

Giving evidence, the alleged victim, now aged 30, said after the night out in October 1997 a friend dropped her off at the Blue Line taxi rank on Burley Road in Leeds and she asked the driver to take her to her parent's home in Armley.

She said she was so drunk at the time that she was drifting in and out of consciousness.

She said; "I remember the driver turning to me and then I remember buttons being undone on my shirt. I have no recollection of anything that happened after that.".

She said she blacked out adding: "I remember waking up with the taxi driver on top of me in the passenger seat. He had his trousers to his knees and I woke up. I was in shock. I hit him and forced him to the other side of the car."

Prosecutor Miss Drake said after his arrest in August this year Khan told police had picked a girl up on Burley Road and she had asked him to take her to a park next to the Yorkshire TV studiios on Kirkstall Road and as they were driving along she had rubbed his thigh with her hand.

Miss Drake added: "He was later to tell police when they got to the park that she climbed on top of him and initiated sexual activity between them. The Crown say this account is far feched."

Khan, of Wentworth Road, Doncaster denies rape.

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

Taxi driver is convicted of 1997 Leeds rape attack

A TAXI driver has been convicted of raping a 19-year-old passenger in Leeds 11 years ago.

Nawab Khan was arrested hours after the October 1997 rape and appeared in court.

But he skipped bail, fled Leeds and changed his identity.

Khan, 63, formerly of Luxor Road, Harehills, Leeds was finally snared earlier this year by the West Yorkshire Police cold case sex case review team – dubbed Operation Recall.

Khan fled, changed his name by deed poll from Fazal Elhi to Nawab Khan, renewed his licence badge in Lincolnshire and carried on working as a taxi driver.

During his trial at Leeds Crown Court, the jury heard he told police a string of lies about the rape in the Kirkstall area of Leeds.

He said the girl, who was so drunk she was passing out in his cab, had jumped on him and later said that was a lie and that the sex was consensual and blamed the devil.

Khan was convicted after a three-day trial. He will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

After the verdict the victim, now aged 30, said: "I am extremely relieved that my case has been finally brought to a close.

"The man who attacked me avoided paying for his crime for all these years, whilst the effects of what happened that night has stayed with me. When the police asked me if I would co-operate by giving evidence in court, it was a very difficult decision to make. I knew I would have to talk about what had happened to me and relive that night.

"I found the strength to do so and I am pleased that he has been brought to justice for what he has done."

She added: "Although it has been difficult for me, I hope that this will encourage other women who have been through similar circumstances to come forward."

Khan was traced to an address in Wentworth Road, Doncaster and arrested in August this year.

A passport found in his flat showed he had not only changed his name but also his date of birth.

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