Taxi tout jailed for sex assault
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An illegal taxi driver who sexually assaulted a 24-year-old he picked up following a night out in south London has been jailed for a minimum of two years.
Alfred Robert Apicella, who worked as a courier and an ice cream vendor during the day, and as an illegal taxi tout in the evenings, was out looking for passengers on November 2 last year, when he collected his victim.
Minutes later, when they reached her home address, he launched his attack, police said.
The 54-year-old, from Mitcham, Surrey, was found guilty on November 5 of two counts of sexual assault and another sexual offence at Kingston Crown Court.
On Tuesday he was handed a two-year indeterminate sentence for public protection and ordered to sign the sex offenders register by a judge at the same court.
The woman, who had been out drinking with friends in Wimbledon climbed into his unlicensed cab in Tooting Broadway at about 3.40am. Rather than getting into the back of the car, Apicella told her to get in the front and put her seatbelt on.
She climbed in, telling him she had no money on her but would pay him when they got to her home address, near Wandsworth Common.
He agreed to this but, on arrival, suggested she "give him a kiss and a cuddle", rather than cash, police said. He then proceeded to sexually assault her before she managed to strike him with her elbow and escape to the safety of her own home. From there she called her partner and police.
Apicella was arrested on May 27 at his home on suspicion of sexual assault. He was charged with the offence later that day.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Cranwell, of the Metropolitan Police, said: "This victim had a terrible ordeal after a night out with her friends and I would like to thank her for her bravery in coming forwards and helping police bring Apicella to justice."
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