Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham Evening Mail

May 29, 2008, Thursday

City cabbie denies rape;

COURT: Woman 'subjected to sex attack' after night out

A WOMAN was raped after she got into an unbooked taxi after a night out on Broad Street, a Birmingham Crown Court jury was told.

The alleged victim claimed she was told by driver Aminur Rahman that there were other ways to pay the taxi fare, before she was subjected to a sex attack.

Rahman, who worked as a driver for A to B taxis on Stratford Road, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.

The court heard how the woman, who was 27 at the time of the alleged attack, had been enjoying a night out with former workmates at various city centre bars before finishing at Brannigans, Broad Street, on the evening of March 31, 2007.

The woman, who was described as "merry but not drunk", decided to go home around 12.45am and called her regular taxi firm Blue Arrow, who informed her to wait for a car near the Hyatt Hotel. When the cab never arrived, she approached Rahman who was parked in his taxi, a people carrier, on Bridge Street and he agreed to take her home, which was a short drive away.

After getting into the front passenger seat, the alleged victim said that Rahman made a quick stop on Broad Street where a bouncer from one of the clubs handed him a small white package containing condoms.

She said: "He started taking the condoms out and started playing with them in his hands.

"One hand was on the steering wheel and he was playing with them with the other.

"I felt uncomfortable, uneasy, but by this time I was near my home anyway."

The woman, who had pounds 70 cash on her, said she was then taken on a detour by Rahman.

"I told him that it was the wrong route but he said that he knew the route. He pulled up on Charlotte Road," she said.

"I asked him why he had parked but he said things could wait. I offered him the fare and he said I could pay him another way."

She claimed she was dragged back into the taxi when she tried to walk away and then raped by Rahman.

However, Amanda O'Mara, defending, claimed that the alleged victim had flirted with Rahman, encouraged him to have sex with her, aroused him and then made up the story to stop her getting in trouble with her partner who was expecting her home.

Ms O'Mara also claimed that the woman had sustained injuries to her knees, hand and bottom when she stumbled over some traffic cones after leaving the taxi, not during any alleged sex attack.

Ms O'Mara said: "It was a night where you wanted to have sexual intercourse with somebody.

It didn't quite go to plan."

The alleged victim denied this suggestion.

(Proceeding)
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