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These saftey issues !
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Hull Daily Mail
A YOUNG woman who was raped by a taxi driver in the back of his car has spoken of her terrifying ordeal.
The 18-year-old victim and a male friend had been picked up illegally by Hadi Mohammed after enjoying a night out in Hull city centre.
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The driver insisted on dropping her friend off in Bransholme before driving to her home in west Hull.
But on the way Mohammed – a bodybuilder in his spare time – pulled over, climbed into the back and carried out the horrifying attack.
After seeing Mohammed jailed for eight years following a trial at Bradford Crown Court, the woman revealed she believes he has attacked other victims and urged them to come forward.
"When he attacked me he was so confident, I don't think I'm the first passenger he has done this to," said the victim, who cannot be identified.
"I think there are other women out there who are victims and I would urge them to come forward. It has really helped me with the healing process."
Mohammed had collected her and her friend in Lowgate, near North Churchside, after a night at Rumours bar.
They were waiting for another private hire vehicle they had booked when Mohammed, of Scott Street, west Hull, pulled up in his VW Passat and told them to get in. Private hire taxi drivers are only allowed to pick up pre-booked fares.
His victim said she wanted her ordeal to act as a warning to other women.
"I want other women and young girls to be aware of the dangers of getting into cabs so they never have to go through what I did," she said.
"There are young girls out there who will just get into any taxi or car but it's just not safe.
"I don't want to label all drivers as being bad but women just need to be a lot more careful.
"The drivers should not be picking up passengers who haven't booked and they shouldn't get in the cars. It just is not safe.
"There needs to be tougher penalties for drivers who don't stick to the rules to make it safer for passengers.
"Since this happened I cannot get taxis alone, I don't feel safe.
"I always make sure I'm with my friends. I only use cab firms I know.
"I just want other women to make sure they learn from this and don't get into cabs alone."
Mohammed, who had worked for taxi firm 60-60-60 since August last year, used a condom during the attack.
He threw it out of the car window and police were able to trace it to him using DNA evidence.
Mohammed, an Iraqi Kurd who came to Hull in 2000, was caught because his DNA had been placed on the police national database following previous convictions for driving without a licence in the city.
Detective Constable Neil Kitching, who led the investigation, said: "He orchestrated it to get her on her own.
"He was in a position of trust as a taxi driver and he abused that trust. It was a calculated attack.
"He is a sexual predator and I believe he has used his position as a taxi driver and his position of trust to prey on this young woman when she was in a vulnerable and intoxicated state.
"It is worrying that, as a taxi driver, he has had access to lots of intoxicated people and he has acted in this way.
"He has made an opportunity for himself by getting rid of her male companion so she was alone in the car with him."
The girl, who bravely gave evidence against Mohammed to secure his conviction, added: "I'm over the moon with the sentence.
"It has been the worst experience of my life but the police have supported me all the way through it and I'm so glad I came to court and gave evidence.
Shabir Hussain, manager at 60-60-60 taxis, said: "This is a very unfortunate incident.
"No driver can work for us without a CRB check by the police. We took all necessary precautions that you can take before employing someone.
"I'm glad he's been jailed. He deserves everything he gets and that's all I can say."
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