Taxi Driver Online

This is the official GMP news release.


Man handed nine years in jail for sexual assault of girl in Oldham

https://www.gmp.police.uk/news/greater- ... in-oldham/

On Wednesday 22 April 2026 at Bolton Crown Court, Tayumur Raja (08/06/1996) of Abbeyhills Road, Oldham, was handed nine years in jail after he was found guilty of sexual assault by digital penetration.

He is subject of the Sex Offender Register indefinitely.

At around 4.15am on 25 September 2021 the victim - a 17-year-old girl at the time, now a woman - left a nightclub in Oldham and walked to St Mary’s Way junction with Yorkshire Street and got into a taxi. She got out a short while later and walked to the bottom of Yorkshire Street as she did not have cash and could only pay using her mobile device.

She contacted another taxi using her mobile phone and a short while later, a vehicle pulled up next to her. The girl got into the car believing it to be her taxi. The driver was Raja.

Raja drove her to a carpark on Park Road, with the girl as his passenger, before he sexually assaulted her.

The victim managed to get free from Raja and ran from the vehicle to the safety of a nearby supermarket where staff helped her.

In a statement read in court, the victim said in part: “Before September 2021, I was a normal 17-year-old girl. I was going to college, working, learning to drive, and spending time with my friends. I was excited about my future and had plans to become a nurse. I was starting to gain independence and figure out who I was as a person. Life felt normal, safe, and full of possibilities.

“Before that night, I always believed things like this happened to other people; not to someone like me. But that night, he turned me into someone that bad things happen to, and everything I thought I knew about safety changed.

“After what had been a normal night out with friends, I got into what I believed was a taxi because I just wanted to go home. I had no idea that my life was about to change completely, through no fault of my own.

“The fear I felt in that moment is something I cannot fully put into words. It was a fear I had never experienced before, a real fear for my life. He stole my safety from me. That fear didn’t end that night. It stayed with me for almost five years while I waited for something to be done and for justice to finally happen.”

She continued: “Over time, I became more and more isolated. Relationships with people close to me broke down because I struggled to trust anyone. Eventually, I left home and moved into a hostel because I felt disconnected from everything and everyone.

“The anger, pain, and confusion I felt took over my life. I pushed people away because it felt easier than trying to explain how broken I felt inside. I tried to get mental health support several times, but nothing seemed to help at the time, and I felt completely stuck, like there was no end to what I was going through.”

Throughout the investigation Raja showed no remorse for his actions and continually denied the offence.

At one point during his interview, he laughed when it was explained to him that the allegation was a serious one and that there was a need to ask him questions about it. He declined to comment and claimed the victim had given consent.

The detailed account bravely given by the victim along with evidence gathered by the police showed this was not the case and the jury convicted him. On 6 March 2026, at Bolton Crown Court, Tayumur Raja was found guilty of sexual assault by digital penetration. He has been sentenced to nine years in prison.

The victim added: “I want to thank the police for taking me seriously and for not giving up on this case despite how long it has taken. Despite everything, this process has also helped restore some of my faith in people.

“Although he has never admitted what he did or shown any remorse, I hope the sentence he receives allows him to reflect on the damage he has caused. What he did affected years of my life, and I hope he understands that. More than anything, I hope he never does this to anyone else.

“I hope my voice encourages others to come forward and seek help. Our voices deserve to be heard.”

Detective Constable Paul Fay, Oldham CID, said: “I commend the bravery of the victim-survivor. Thanks to her, a dangerous sexual predator is now behind bars.

“I hope this gives the victim a sense of justice as she looks to move forward and rebuild her life.

“I urge all victim-survivors of rape and sexual offences to please come forward and report them to us. You will be believed and supported. We can work at a pace that suits you so we can bring perpetrators to justice.”

https://www.gmp.police.uk/contentassets ... dia-12.jpg

If you or anyone you know is a victim of sexual assault, you can report it to police on 101 or vis the LiveChat function on the GMP website at http://www.gmp.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Remember – if in doubt, report it.

If you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted, we encourage you not to suffer in silence and report it to the police, or a support agency so you can get the help and support available.

- Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Manchester provides a comprehensive and co-ordinated response to men, women and children who live or have been sexually assaulted within Greater Manchester. They offer forensic medical examinations, practical and emotional support as well as a counselling service for all ages. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and can be accessed by calling 0161 276 6515.

- Greater Manchester Rape Crisis is a confidential information, support and counselling service run by women for women over 18 who have been raped or sexually abused at any time in their lives. Call on 0161 273 4500 or email help@manchesterrapecrisis.co.uk

Instances may go unreported as people in controlling relationships often do not recognise the harm they face.

Long time ago now

Indeed.

It either took the police ages to find him, which happens, or the court took ages to deal with it. Which also sadly happens.

Dealing with court delays is, IMO, the only sensible thing this government is doing.

_________________
IDFIMH

According to this ITV News report, he was arrested almost immediately, and the judge commented on the delay, but there isn't any real explanation.

There's also a fast-loading video of the report via the link, which also talks about delays in bringing cases like this to trial more generally.


Bogus taxi driver jailed for assaulting teenager in Oldham after five year wait for justice

https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2026-0 ... or-justice

ITV Granada Reports journalist Anna Youssef spoke to 'Susie' about her ordeal, and her wait for justice

A woman who was sexually assaulted by an "entitled, abusive and predatory" man posing as a taxi driver says she hopes speaking out will encourage others to come forward - despite waiting five years for justice.

'Susie' was just 17 when she was attacked by Tayumur Raja, 29, who had been driving around Oldham looking for vulnerable victims.

He approached the teenager, who had just left a nightclub in the town and was waiting for a taxi home, and - believing it to be her ride - she got into the car.

"He was literally looking for someone - you can see that on the CCTV because there was no other reason for him to be there," Susie, whose identity is being protected, said.

"I just looked vulnerable, I was on my own, I was only small and I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was just on my own and there was no one else around."

During the assault, at 4.15am on 25 September 2021, she managed to fight off her attacker and get out of the car, alerting a local shop for help.

But, despite reporting it immediately to police, with Raja arrested and charged soon after, Susie has had to wait five years to see her attacker brought to justice and sentenced for her ordeal.

At Bolton Crown Court, on 22 April 2026, Raja - who has been on bail since his arrest - was jailed for nine years.

Jailing him Judge Abigail Hudson said his attitude towards women was entitled, abusive and predatory, adding he posed a particular risk to strangers.

She also apologised to Susie for the significant distress caused by the delay in this case coming to court and said she could not offer any explanation or excuse, other than funding.

Despite the delay, the teenager says she is determined to show people attackers can, and will, be brought to justice.

"I hope he never gets the chance to make anyone feel like the way he made me feel," Susie said.

"I just wanted to make sure people knew you can get through it, you can go to court and justice does happen sometimes."

Recounting the night of her attack Susie said she believed that he would take her home following a night out with friends.

"I just got in the back of the car as you do in a taxi, and then he just started off driving so I thought, 'right I’m going home now' and then he drove the total wrong way," she said.

"I knew something was going to happen, I just didn't know what was going to happen."

They drove to an empty carpark, where Raja began doing drugs, promising he would take her home when he had finished.

"I just kept on saying I want to go home just take me home and he was like - let me do just a quick line," she added.

With her phone dead and the doors locked, Susie was trapped inside the car, and she was dragged into the front passenger seat where she was sexually assaulted.

"I was just telling him to stop. I told him, 'I just want to go home, I just want to go home, stop stop', I was crying," she said.

"While I was trying to get out he was trying to pull me back in by my neck because that's all he could grab hold of.

"He gets back into the driver's seat, starts the car and starts driving after me so I thought he’s going to hit me with a car here."

Research by the charity Rape Crisis has found the number of sexual offence cases waiting to go to court is at a record high - with 14,749 on the waiting list.

The number represents a 75% increase in the past three years, with the backlog meaning one in three rape trials ends up being postponed at least once.

Greater Manchester Police said Raja showed no remorse for his actions throughout the investigation and continually denied the offence.

At one point during his interview, he laughed when it was explained to him that the allegation was a serious one and that there was a need to ask him questions about it. He declined to comment and claimed the victim had given consent.

But on 6 March 2026 Raja was convicted of sexual assault.

Detective Constable Paul Fay, Oldham CID, said: “I commend the bravery of the victim-survivor. Thanks to her, a dangerous sexual predator is now behind bars.

“I hope this gives the victim a sense of justice as she looks to move forward and rebuild her life.

“I urge all victim-survivors of rape and sexual offences to please come forward and report them to us. You will be believed and supported. We can work at a pace that suits you so we can bring perpetrators to justice.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said it was investing £500million in victim support and a new national legal advice service for victims of rape.

It added: “The Crown Court is under severe pressure, with more than 80,000 outstanding cases and victims facing unacceptable delays after years of neglect.

“Through reform, record investment and modernisation, we are working to cut the backlog and deliver swift, fair justice.''


Alison Lloyd from Greater Manchester Rape Crisis says survivors lives are being put on hold

"The impact on the survivors is very real and often devastating," Alison Lloyd from Greater Manchester Rape Crisis said.

"Any survivor of sexual harm deserves a process that supports recovery and not one that promotes trauma.

"We hear from survivors who feel as thought their lives are on hold for years, unable to move on, constantly anxious and living with repeated uncertainty about their cases and when they will be heard."

Speaking of the five-year delay, Susie added: "It just made it harder because you had to remember every little detail, every little thing.

"You can't ever put it behind you, because you are constantly thinking 'well I have got court so it has got to be brought back up' so if you push it too far down it has got to be brought back up again so you are constantly thinking about it until it is done."