This is the official Essex Police news release. Note how the headline and the like doesn't mention the 'taxi' angle...
And unusual for a jury trial to find the accused guilty in his absence, I'd guess
Colchester: Victim's strength secured sexual assault convictionhttps://www.essex.police.uk/news/essex/ ... l-assault/A man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in Colchester thanks to the work of detectives who were able to track him down in the hours after the incident.Arjun Rajan, of Affleck Road in Colchester, was seen on city centre CCTV from about 12.30am on 24 July 2022 having driven there alone and parked in High Street, then walking to Head Street.
After 30 minutes, the 33-year-old saw the victim as she walked to get a taxi home. He continued to watch and follow her as she walked to the High Street before offering her a lift.
Believing he was a taxi driver the woman got into the car and Rajan drove away towards her home address, but he sexually assaulted her in the car before they arrived.
The woman told him to stop the car, and she walked the remaining journey home where she then disclosed what had happened and the police were alerted.
Our officers quickly identified Rajan and arrested him 7pm the same day.
He was later charged with sexual assault and first appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 14 July 2023.
On Tuesday 7 October a jury found him guilty of the sexual assault in his absence and a warrant for his arrest has been issued. He is due to be sentenced on 5 November at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Victim has incredible perseverance and strengthSpeaking after the conviction, Detective Sergeant Jade Lawton said:
“The first thing I want to do is thank the woman in this case for her incredible perseverance and strength.
“Supporting our investigation and providing her statement was a very brave thing to do and she has had to deal with delays to the trial.
“Despite the distress this caused she waited months longer to give evidence in court with dignity and help secure this conviction.
“Rajan took advantage of a vulnerable woman alone after an evening in Colchester.
“He had the opportunity at every stage of this offence to leave this woman alone or to go home and he never took this. He deceived her, he assaulted her, and the jury agreed with us that he is solely responsible.
“His unwillingness to face justice only reinforces his guilt.”
I will not let this define meThe woman involved, now aged in her 30s, said:
“After the assault, I shut myself away from the world. I was too afraid to leave my house, terrified that he might find me or approach me it. I kept what happened a secret from most people in my life.
“For over three years, this has weighed on me and my family. I cannot decide what happens next, that is for the court and judge.
“But I can say this: I fought through fear, shame, and heartbreak not because I wanted to, but because I had to for my daughter, for my family, and for every survivor who feels voiceless.
“I will not let what happened to me define who I am. It is a part of my story, but not the end of it. I choose to keep fighting, to love more, and to rebuild the parts of myself that were broken.”
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