A man from Oldham has been jailed for nine years after sexually assaulting a teenager who believed she was getting into a taxi home after a night out. Tayumur Raja, of Abbeyhills Road, Oldham, was convicted at Bolton Crown Court of sexual assault by digital penetration following a trial.
Greater Manchester Police said the victim, then 17, left a nightclub in Oldham at around 4.15am in September 2021 and initially got into a taxi before getting out because she did not have cash. She then ordered another taxi on her phone, but when a car arrived she got in believing it was the driver she had requested. Raja was behind the wheel.
Police said Raja drove her to a car park before sexually assaulting her. She managed to escape and ran to a nearby supermarket. During questioning, Raja declined to comment and claimed the victim had consented. Detectives later said he laughed when told about the allegation.
In a statement read to court, the victim described how her life changed after the attack. She said she had been a normal 17-year-old before the incident, going to college, working, learning to drive and spending time with friends, but that Raja “turned” her into someone bad things happen to. She said the fear did not end that night and stayed with her for almost five years while she waited for justice.
The victim also said she became increasingly isolated, lost trust in people close to her and struggled with anger, pain and confusion. She said she had tried to get mental health support several times but felt completely stuck. Despite the trauma, she thanked police for taking her seriously and for not giving up on the case.
She said she hoped the sentence would make Raja reflect on the damage he caused and prevent him from doing it to anyone else. She also said she hoped her voice would encourage other victims to come forward and seek help, adding that survivors deserve to be heard.
Detective Constable Paul Fay of Oldham CID praised the victim’s bravery and said a dangerous sexual predator is now behind bars. He said the case should give the victim a sense of justice as she looks to rebuild her life, and urged anyone affected by rape or sexual offences to report them, stressing that victims will be believed and supported.