Hodge Hill Taxi Driver Jailed For Raping Teenager

10 December 2016, 07:26 | Updated: 10 December 2016, 09:21

A Birmingham taxi-driver who raped a teenager after picking her up from a night out in Birmingham city centre has been jailed for 10 years.

Ihsanullah Sarfaraz, of Newmarket Way in Hodge Hill, admitted sexually assaulting the 18-year-old after she and a friend hailed his private hire taxi in Hurst Street on 23 October.

The 33-year-old dropped her friend at home but then drove the teenager to a secluded spot and subjected her to a horrendous attack.

The teenager, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "On this particular day I used a vehicle I believed to be a private hire taxi and as always placed my trust and confidence in this driver.

"This man took advantage of his position and took advantage of my vulnerable position. He knocked my confidence completely and I struggle on a daily basis because of what he's done."

Inspector Ian Ingram, from the force’s Public Protection Unit, said: "This was a total betrayal of trust; the teenager and her friend quite rightly thought they would be safe when they took a taxi home from a night out.

"This man, who was a licensed taxi driver, abused his position to prey on a vulnerable lone woman.

"He has now been put behind bars for a very long time, he will also never be allowed to drive a taxi again and will be placed on the sex offender register for life.

"I would also like to take the opportunity to commend this woman’s bravery for coming forward and throughout this investigation.

"I hope today’s sentence will bring her some comfort as she continues to recover from her ordeal."