Taxi Driver Online

Nothing particularly out of the ordinary about the 'fake taxi driver' modus here, but obviously the rest of it is slightly different from the norm.

Don't normally pay much attention to this sort of thing, but wouldn't he normally be remanded in custody once convicted, pending sentencing? Unfortunately not much here as regards what happened in that regard, precisely

Nor is there much information about the incident itself

But it seems to have taken place five years ago...


Dangerous sex criminal on the loose as manhunt is launched

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/loc ... nt-8505197

Rapist Watir Ali failed to appear at court and has vanished


Image: Avon and Somerset Police/Daily Mail

An urgent manhunt has been launched for a dangerous rapist who has gone on the run. Avon and Somerset Police is looking for sex offender Watir Ali, 46, who has vanished after failing to appear in court yesterday (June 7).

Ali was found guilty of rape by a jury, having taken his victim to his Bristol flat and raped her before taking her home. She had got into his car thinking that it was a taxi.

Ali was sentenced to eight years in prison in his absence, having failed to turn up to the sentencing hearing and is on the loose. Avon and Somerset Police has now launched an urgent manhunt to find him, urging anyone who knows of his whereabouts to call 999 immediately.

Ali is described by police as a south Asian man, 5ft 6ins (170cm) tall and slim, with short dark hair and brown eyes. Police have released an image of him in a bid to help the public identify him.

Police said in an urgent public appeal: "If you know where he is now, please call 999 and give the reference 5223133652. If you have any other information which could help officers to locate him, please call 101 and give the same reference."

When he failed to appear at court, the Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC initially issued a warrant not backed for bail for his arrest. Some two hours later, and still no sign of Ali, the judge passed sentence in his absence.

Judge Blair told the court: "It is my view that Mr Ali did target the complainant because he perceived she was vulnerable through intoxication. It is clear that her memory of events was hugely, badly affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol.

"It is aggravated because it was night-time, she was on her own and the defendant was sober."

The court heard that, after a night out with friends, the complainant left a night club and got into Ali's car, thinking it was a taxi. Though there was an unaccounted for four hours, the jury decided Ali had taken her to his Bristol flat and raped her before taking her home.

Susan Cavender, prosecuting, read a victim personal statement made by the complainant in which she said: "My smile has been stolen from me. I have been living in a very dark place."

She said she no longer socialised unless with trusted people and her self-esteem was very low. She said she had suffered from depression and had nightmares.

The statement said: "I don't think I'll ever get over it. I will never forget it. Five years on I'm still recovering from it."

Mark Worsley, defending, said his client was aged 41 at the time and had no relevant previous convictions. He said Ali moved to Bristol from Bradford some 20 years ago, worked as a waiter and also as a pizza delivery driver and led a "rather sad existence".

This is covered in the nationals as well, but it's all just rehash of the local press stuff above. Had another look, though, and found this in the Bristol Post, which is largely the same as the article above, but was obviously written before the police issued the appeal and photo. But there are a few paragraphs of additional information. December 2017, eh?


No-show at Bristol court for convicted rapist who was allowed bail

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... ed-8503120

His victim had left a nightclub thinking she was getting into a taxi

[...]The 46-year-old, of Henbury, denied wrongdoing after the alleged assault in December 2017 and had a trial. He claimed he had consensual sex with a woman he met in Bristol.

The jury dismissed his account. Having been bailed to put his affairs in order, he was listed for sentence at Bristol Crown Court today (June 7).[...]

The court heard Ali has not used his bank account for some 12 days, there is no evidence of his buying travel tickets and police have his passport.[...]

he will have plenty of relatives willing to give him cash and fake passports are easy enough to obtain

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

I suspect he didn't attend the trial, or at least didn't attend the last few days of it.

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IDFIMH

Sussex, this is the whole of the original piece from the Bristol Post (ie before the police appeal and photo, which seemed to be the trigger the various articles about the 'manhunt' etc.).

Which certainly doesn't read to me like he failed to attend the trial at any stage, and was only a 'no-show' for the sentencing.

Reads like the judge bailed him after trial and conviction 'to get his affairs in order', but he obviously, er, bailed.

But can't find any online reports of the trial itself


No-show at Bristol court for convicted rapist who was allowed bail

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... ed-8503120

His victim had left a nightclub thinking she was getting into a taxi

A man convicted for raping a "vulnerable" woman on a night out did not turn up at court for his sentence. Watir Ali was jailed for eight years in his absence.

The 46-year-old, of Henbury, denied wrongdoing after the alleged assault in December 2017 and had a trial. He claimed he had consensual sex with a woman he met in Bristol.

The jury dismissed his account. Having been bailed to put his affairs in order, he was listed for sentence at Bristol Crown Court today (June 7).

When he failed to appear the Recorder of Bristol His Honour Judge Peter Blair KC initially issued a warrant not backed for bail for his arrest. Some two hours later, and still no sign of Ali, the judge jailed him.

Judge Blair told the court: "It is my view that Mr Ali did target the complainant because he perceived she was vulnerable through intoxication. It is clear that her memory of events was hugely, badly affected by the excessive consumption of alcohol.

"It is aggravated because it was night-time, she was on her own and the defendant was sober."

The court heard that, after a night out with friends, the complainant left a night club and got into Ali's car, thinking it was a taxi. Though there was an unaccounted for four hours, the jury decided Ali had taken her to his Bristol flat and raped her before taking her home.

'He has stolen my smile'

Susan Cavender, prosecuting, read a victim personal statement made by the complainant in which she said: "My smile has been stolen from me. I have been living in a very dark place."

She said she no longer socialised unless with trusted people and her self-esteem was very low. She said she had suffered from depression and had nightmares.

She added: "I don't think I'll ever get over it. I will never forget it. Five years on I'm still recovering from it."

Mark Worsley, defending, said his client was aged 41 at the time and had no relevant previous convictions. He said Ali moved to Bristol from Bradford some 20 years ago, worked as a waiter and also as a pizza delivery driver and led a "rather sad existence".

The court heard Ali has not used his bank account for some 12 days, there is no evidence of his buying travel tickets and police have his passport.

Seems you’re right.

Let’s hope the Judge has learnt a valuable lesson.

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IDFIMH