Cabbie may lose job after sex attack on female passenger
A JUDGE has urged a local authority to revoke the licence of a taxi driver who sexually assaulted a female passenger.
Rafaqat Ali was last month convicted by a jury at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court of sexually assaulting the woman on June 27 last year.
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The 29-year-old, of Erskine Street, Longton, has now been jailed for six months and will be on the sex offenders' register for seven years.
Following the sentencing, Councillor Joy Garner, chairman of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's licensing and registration panel, said the panel would give serious consideration to Ali's licence before his release from prison.
She added: "A report will come to the licensing and registration panel.
"This will ask us to look at the options, of which revoking his license is one of them.
"The panel looks very strongly and severely at these sort of cases.
"I'm really pleased that someone has gone all the way to court, regardless of it being a taxi driver.
"When it's a sexual crime, most people don't continue all the way to court because they feel they're going through the incident again.
"It's very brave to carry on and we need more people that have been abused to come forward in the future."
Cabbie Dave Burgess-Pearson, from Bucknall, said he was "ashamed" of some of the taxi drivers in the city.
He said: "I love this city and I love this job but the city council is turning a blind eye.
"How many more deaths and rapes do we need?
"They're letting far too many people become taxi drivers."
Judge Paul Glenn, who sentenced Ali, told the defendant: "I can't make any order about this, but I hope that the local authority would prevent you from working as a taxi driver."
The court was told the victim, who has been affected emotionally and psychologically, is now frightened to get into taxis on her own.
Judge Glenn told Ali: "I saw that young woman give evidence.
"I am satisfied that she was sober and she made her instructions clear to you.
"You started engaging her in conversation and when you stopped you wanted a kiss rather than a fare.
"When she resisted, you physically tried to pull her towards you more than once.
"You had locked the door. She was frightened. It was only after she threw money at you that she escaped.
"I reject the suggestion made at trial that she was in any way verbally or physically abusive to you or she refused to pay the fare.
"She made a prompt complaint and, plainly from her mother's evidence, she was extremely upset.
He added: "Taxi drivers hold positions of trust.
"Female passengers, particularly when they are alone, place a great deal of trust in their drivers because they are potentially vulnerable."
Anis Ali, mitigating, said the incident was limited in duration and the victim was not physically injured by the defendant.
Mr Ali said his client was disappointed by the jury's verdict but is "nevertheless embarrassed and ashamed".
He added: "He now has the stigma which goes with the conviction, which he will carry for some time."
Mr Ali also told how the conviction has placed a strain on the defendant's marriage.
He said: "It may be in jeopardy as is the case with his employment."
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by David, S-O-T
Thursday, September 02 2010, 1:00AM
“Where there's a meeting there's an expenditure claim. Same as for the clogged up courts system due payments.....sorry, - prcess, applies.”
by keith, France
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 7:42PM
“Excuse me, as a lot have said,"may lose his licence", it should not be a consideration it should be revoked forthwith.”
by I agree with Truth hurts.,, Stoke- on- Trent
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 4:41PM
“M.Penning,
Ref "As I now read that Mr Stubbs appears to have taken his own life, I acknowledge that, based on the information available to me yesterday... I made a MISJUDGEMENT."
The acknowledgement was not meant solely for you. It was ( in real time) an example of how easy it is for misjudgements to be made.
Acting on limited information or in some cases, selective information , is one of the reasons why a jury system, good as it is, can never be infallible and why "lynch mob mentality" should be discouraged.”
by ACD, Newcastle
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 4:05PM
“I feel for this girl because the same thing happened to me over 25 years ago. I made the mistake of sitting in the front seat and chatting to the taxi driver. When he pulled up outside my house he demanded I kissed him and then grabbed hold of my arm when I refused. Luckily I managed to pull free and the door was not locked. I never considered going to the police though because in the early 80's I don't think they would have taken it seriously. However, it put me off going in taxi's on my own and I would rather run my 18 year old daughter anywhere rather than let her go on he own in a taxi.”
by Young, Earth
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 3:01PM
“I didn't realise Taxi driving was a career Chav from the Lonton Massive.”
by Peter, Staffs
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:50AM
“if he was not born in the UK, he can go back to his country.
Change his name and get a new car licence from there.
Then he can come back to the UK and aqbe a taxi driver again under another name and will have a clean slate,because of this British Justice is a joke.”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:12AM
“QUOTE: (from the person who uses the pseudonym -'I agree with truth hurts -Stoke-on-Trent')....
You need to acknowledge that based, on information available to you, you have rallied on these pages,your fellow citizens( lead a lynch mob) not only in reference to the accused but also in demanding the sacking of an individual going about their daily business. (unquote)
I agree with Truth hurts., Stoke on Trent
commented on 01-Sep-2010 09:24
Yes, exactly -'Based on the information....' Touché !!
I appreciate the acknowledgement. Heaven sent.”
by Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 11:02AM
“I'm just grateful that there are Britistanis willing to come on here and discuss and debate the issues -whether they concern the Asian Community or the Muslim Community -or both.
Whether it be good or bad vibes.
I know for a fact that certain ethnic community leaders in this city are concerned that there is very little input from individuals in ethnic communities -where organs of the media are concerned -such as these blog sites or on the 'Letters Page' of the Sentinel..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tjb1k
Repeated 5pm Sunday 5th Sept.
Also Podcasted..... listen any time. Perspectives.”
by I agree with Truth hurts., Stoke on Trent
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 9:39AM
“Mike Penning.
As I now read that Mr Stubbs appears to have taken his own life, I acknowledge that, based on the information available to me yesterday... I made a MISJUDGEMENT.”
by I agree with Truth hurts., Stoke- on- Trent
Wednesday, September 01 2010, 9:24AM
“Ref.. "You don't appear to have grasped the serious reality of this case. You must learn to understand that we have in this country legal procedures -whose applications afford certain citizens to be put into 'positions of trust' where the general public are concerned. i.e. Taxi-Drivers.
Making analogies with 'Office Party' sexual transgressions simply shows you to have missed the entire point here at the centre of this affair."
Mick Penning, newcastle, staffs
You need to acknowledge that based, on information available to you, you have rallied on these pages,your fellow citizens( lead a lynch mob) not only in reference to the accused but also in demanding the sacking of an individual going about their daily business.
I am fully aware of the seriousness of the accusation and the public safety issues... this extends to all citizens, even the accused. It appears that Leslie Stubbs (accused of murdering Mrs Wilkes) was not even given the opportunity of facing a jury but was, judged, pronounced guilty and dispatched by one upstanding citizen acting on behalf of ????
I, like, Truth hurts, am pointing out, that making unwanted sexual advances is not an activity isolated to "foreign men" nor for that matter to MEN, and the heat generated here was mainly because the accused was a male Asian.
As for the Jury system, make sure you never put yourself in a position to test it. It make be as good a system as exists but it is far from infallible, review criminal history.”