Taxi Driver Online

September 1, 2007 Saturday

Cabbie cleared of sex assault

Echo

A TAXI driver wept and thanked the jury as he was cleared of forcing his tongue into a passenger's mouth.

George Georgiou was acquitted at Basildon Crown Court on Friday of sexually assaulting the 53-year-old woman after picking her up from a London hospital and driving her to her Canvey home. The woman claimed Georgiou bombarded her with sexual comments during the journey before stopping his car as they pulled on to Canvey Way and trying to kiss her, forcing his tongue into her mouth.

Mr Georgiou gave evidence at his trial and claimed the woman got into the front passenger seat and told him about her personal problems during the two-and-a-half-hour drive.

The defendant accepted the fact he gave her his telephone number and that he kissed her on the cheek when she got out of the car, but he denied sexually assaulting her or making any lewd remarks towards her.

After being acquitted, Mr Georgiou, from Barney, North London, broke down in tears of relief.

He turned to the jury and said: "Thank you, thank you so much."
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