Bristol taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting drunk passenger claims she kissed him as she thanked him for helping A TAXI driver accused of sexually assaulting a drunk passenger claimed it was he who was kissed by her as she thanked him for helping.
Abukar Jimale, 46, of Halston Drive, St Paul's, said he had to push the 20-year-old away as she tried to thank him for picking her up in distress and giving her a free lift.
He denies that he kissed her, put his tongue in her mouth and placed her hands on his private parts.
He also denies that eight months later he grabbed a teenage passenger's hand after asking her: "What's your name, beautiful?"
Jimale has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent in August 2013. He has not been charged in relation to the second alleged incident.
Taking the stand yesterday, Jimale said he was parked on Bath Road near Arnos Vale Cemetery in August counting his takings when a woman approached. She knocked on his door and he pulled the window down.
"She was in a very bad state," he said. "She was crying she was scared and wasn't feeling good. She was talking while she was crying. She was saying 'I'm alone, can you help me? Please take me to Temple Meads'."
He said she told him she had no money but he decided to take her as he could see she was distressed.
He stopped along the way, he said, to ask her if she wanted him to call the police for her.
She declined the offer and asked him to continue on the journey.
After arriving at Temple Meads, he said she leaned over, held his head and kissed him.
"She kissed me on the cheek and said thank you very much," he said. "She kissed me on the cheek and the chin. I was trying to hold her back because it was against my culture and my profession.
"I said 'this is not appropriate' and she said 'it is OK, thank you very much'."
After he was arrested, Jimale, who was born in Somalia, went to a doctor due to stress. "I was shocked and confused," he said.
Prosecuting, David Scutt, accused Jimale of preying on vulnerable girls late at night.
He said: "This was you taking advantage of a drunk girl thinking you would get away with it."
Jimale replied: "How could I take advantage of someone in this kind of area? There were people there and cars everywhere – it was a bank holiday."
In relation to the second allegation against him, the court heard details of his work on the night in question. A list of jobs were read out which showed he had taken passengers to Easton, Fishponds and up Whiteladies Road.
Jimale was alleged to have picked up a Bristol University student at around 3am on Whiteladies Road, offering to take her to her halls of residence.
After grabbing her hand and talking about going via the Downs, she started to dial 999 on her phone and got the driver to let her out – before completing her 999 call and reading his registration number to police.
Jimale denied the allegations saying he was parked outside the taxi office at this time speaking with two friends.
Mr Scutt said: "Another young lady out late at night, drunk and vulnerable. Another young lady you tried to target in a similar way."
He added: "You have lied and lied and lied. You used your family, your health and even your faith to save your skin."
The case continues.
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