Taxi Driver Online

In this particular City I'm wonder why this woman thought a private car was a Taxi? Obviously some on the jury had a problem finding the man guilty?
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Evening Times (Glasgow)

August 15, 2006

HEADLINE: Bogus taxi driver raped young mum; Woman tells court of terror after night out

A MOTOR dealer raped a young mother who got into his car believing it was for hire after a night out. John McIntear, 55, drove his victim to her destination in the Toryglen area of Glasgow but sexually assaulted her.

The 24-year-old woman told the High Court in Edinburgh she had been out drinking after leaving her infant daughter with a relative. She had left a bar intending to get a taxi and go home. She added: "I saw a car and I went up and asked if he was for hire and he said 'yes'.

"I thought it was a taxi. I asked."

Advocate depute Alan Mackay asked her what she did when the driver stopped the car. The woman replied: "Asked him how much it was.

"He said 'you don't have to pay'. I thought that was strange." But she said the driver climbed over towards her in the front passenger seat and started putting the seat back.

She said he then carried out a horrific sexual assault. She said: "I just froze. . . he attacked me."

McIntear, of Grangehill North Lodge, Beith, in Ayrshire, denied raping the woman, claiming that sex was consensual. But on a majority verdict a jury convicted him.

McIntear said he had taken her home because she was "a nice lassie", but she had asked him for GBP25 and he indicated he had no money.

Lord Macphail called for a background report on McIntear before sentencing and ordered he be remanded in custody.

The judge also placed McIntear on the sex offenders' register.
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