Taxi Driver Online

A man is currently on trial at Woolwich crown court for sexual assaults on gay men in London.

Mohamad Caid, 38, from Deptford, was charged in June with one rape, two attempted rapes, sexual assault and false imprisonment and was remanded in custody.

At the time, police appealed for other victims to come forward after two men reported being sexually assaulted after leaving Heaven nightclub in Villiers Street.

The alleged attacks took place in an illegal minicab.

Caid is pleading not guilty.

The case continues.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Illegal cab driver guilty of raping gay men in London

A man who posed as a taxi driver was yesterday found guilty of raping two young gay men after picking them up from a London nightclub.

Woolwich crown court heard that Mohamad Caid, 38, of Deptford, had been touting for passengers on two occasions in May this year close to Heaven nightclub, near Charing Cross station.

In the first incident, a 19-year-old man was driven to Lewisham before being sexually assaulted.

Five days later, Caid picked up two men and drove them to Fenchurch Street station. After dropping them off, he persuaded one of the men, who was 18, to get back in the car and subsequently raped him.

He was convicted of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and two counts of false imprisonment.

He has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on January 11th. The judge warned he could expect a substantial custodial sentence.

Following the verdict, police sought to reassure gay men that reports of sexual assaults would be taken seriously and said that messages about unlicensed taxis were relevant to everyone, not just women.

City of London Police’s Detective Inspector Dave Carter, who led the investigation into the rapes, said: “I want to reassure gay men that we treat every report seriously. We have specially trained officers and the support of the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor services, to help and support victims from their initial report, throughout the investigation and during court proceedings. Victims can also ask for the support of a gay officer during the investigation.

“This case unfortunately illustrates that the advice in the national police rape awareness campaign is as relevant to gay men as to other members of our community.”

Police forces nationally are supporting the campaign to raise awareness of rape in the lead-up to the Christmas party season when there is the potential for incidents of rape and sexual assault to increase.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Be nice if some of your force actually moved these touting lowlifes on once in a while Dave.

The City is like an amnesty area for Minicabs touting outside clubs.

Still. Won’t be long until the next one.

Any bets? A few days, a week?

'We want parity' they whine. FFS.

a tad more serious than access to bus lanes...............nice to know they have their priorities eh ?

Their priorities lay where their big boss in William Road tells them so.

Puppets answering to the puppet master.

He even controls the London GMB Minicab branch now!

So much for Terry, Don and the GMB taking him on.

Perhaps Fred Keen can give us his take on it? What do you say Fred?

"POSING"as taxi driver.In other words not licensed for either trade

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GMB PDB London Branch President
Vice-chair National Organising Committee
07956-884076
www.gmbpdb.org.uk
AFFORDABLE CCTV FOR EVERY LICENSED DRIVER
www.gmbpdb.org.uk/gmb-cctv.htm

There's only one trade Don.

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Gay rape victim warns others to avoid unlicensed taxis

One of the victims of Mohamad Caid, the illegal cab driver who preyed on young gay men leaving a London nightclub, has spoken out about his experience.

John (not his real name) was raped by Caid in May after leaving Heaven nightclub. A 19-year-old victim had been sexually assaulted by him five days earlier.

Caid was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and false imprisonment at Woolwich crown court yesterday. He was warned by the judge he would receive a "substantial" prison sentence.

John, 18, was out on his first night of clubbing in London when the attack happened.

He explained: "When it came to leaving the club, a guy pulled up and said he was a cab driver. It was my first time in London, so I didn't have a clue. My friend said come on let's get in. I wasn't sure, but didn't want to be left behind as I don't know London at all and didn't want to be left stranded not knowing how to get home."

After the attack took place, he was unsure whether to go to the police until his sister and a friend encouraged him to report it.

John said: "I'd say anyone who has been assaulted that's gay should definitely 100 per cent report it to the police. They treat you really well. I've seen another side to the police though this case – they are really caring.

“The two City of London police officers dealing with my welfare, Clinton and Deb, have been there to support me. On one occasion, they rushed to my home when I told them how distressed I was."

John was keen to highlight the medical help he received afterwards, which included post-exposure propylaxis to prevent HIV infection.

He said: "Over the past six months, the effects of the rape have left me feeling suicidal. The HIV medication and the hepatitis jabs I had to take afterwards left me feeling really ill – I was physically sick for a month. But it is really important to get the medical help you need.”

On yesterday's verdict, he said: "I'm on top of the world – that's one less person on the streets that can do that."

John added that clubbers should avoid taking unlicensed cabs and organise their way home in advance.

He said: "People should always know how they're going to get home. Get into a black cab, don't get any other taxi. Take it to the train station and wait there for your first train home."

He added: "I was vulnerable when I was attacked. It was my first time out in London. But really..I know it sounds strange, but I'm more confident having gone through all this. Reporting the crime, dealing with the investigation and especially standing up in court giving evidence on my own. I really am more confident now.

"I am so glad there's been a good ending, it's made my Christmas".

Advice from Transport for London (TFL) on getting home safely states that people should only use pre-booked licensed minicabs or taxis (black cabs).

TFL Cabwise uses GPS to provide three closest minicab numbers (Text CAB to 60835).

There will be an extra charge of £4 for black cab journeys between 8pm on December 24th and 6am on December 27th, and between 8pm on December 31st and 6am on January 2nd.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

This was an illegal taxi driver, so why it is solely a PH problem?

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IDFIMH

semantics!

Was he assaulted in a taxi type vehicle or a car ? I know outside London regular cars are used as taxis and thats why perhaps you question my reasoning.

He was posing as a legitimate driver for hire and reward. Were we not infested in London with many "licensed PH drivers" also doing the same thing the outcome of this sad affair could well have been very different! A great many of these assaults are happening because it is seen that little or no action is being taken against the touts at night thus giving them an easy way to prey on victims.

If the PH industry is serious about wanting to be taken as professionals in London then they need to seriously reconsider their priorities. I personally think that it is all too convenient that touting is ignored on the scale it is as this allows a company owner the benefit of growing his organisation over and above the sustainability that his customer base can provide and reaps him the financial rewards of additional rental income. In turn he acknowledges his drivers tout but is content to see it happen as it means his customer base gets the service they pay for; a car on demand and his drivers get to supplement their income with a little "cash work" off the streets when the account work has dried up.

As I have said before the touts have no friends amongst the vast majority of the licensed London PH trade. The firms want them clearing their own punters not yours from the streets.

If you spoke to any of the PH big operators they would fully support any action taken against the touts, and lobby for further action.

The problem is that the black cab trade are far too interested in rucking with themselves and using the touts as a stick to incorrectly tar the whole PH trade with the tout brush.

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IDFIMH

They say nothing, and will never say nothing.

Why would they?

As long as their mugs are paying £260 a week rental with little work, the likes of 'certain well known operators' will keep quiet.

The touting covers the shortfall in the companies account work. They keep the drivers, the drivers make some extra cash that they steal from the public.

I've yet to hear a Minicab boss come on the telly to condem touting.

pedant alert (again, sorry) condone = condemn?

why would they condone an illegal act? They could publicly condemn it, tho' privately turn a blind eye for the very reasons you state.

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My heart is heavy, but my consience clear,
I voted Yes, without any fear.

What mistake?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!