A taxi driver who abducted and raped a young woman after picking her up illegally outside a Manchester nightclub has been jailed for 12 years.
Muhammad Nasir, 40, was convicted at Manchester Crown Court after a jury rejected his claims that the encounter had been consensual. The court heard he had logged off his private hire system, meaning he was not authorised to take passengers, when he picked up the 20-year-old student outside Chinawhite nightclub on Deansgate.
Instead of taking her home, Nasir drove in the opposite direction towards Chorlton. The victim, who had been on the phone to her mother when she left the club at around 2am, did not return home until shortly before 5.30am. During that time, she was raped.
Sentencing Nasir, Judge Suzanne Goddard KC said she was satisfied he had deliberately targeted a “clearly drunken lone female” with the intention of exploiting her. She described him as a “dangerous and predatory sex offender” and imposed an extended sentence of 12 years in custody with an additional four years on licence.
The court heard the victim’s recollection of events was fragmented, though evidence showed her bank card was used in Chorlton, with £70 withdrawn from her account.
In a statement read to the court, the victim described the lasting impact of the attack, saying the offender had taken advantage of her vulnerability and the trust she placed in him as a taxi driver. She said the experience had shaped “fear and instability” in her life, but added she was determined not to be defined by the assault.
Prosecutors said the victim initially did not report the incident, later coming forward after confiding in her mother and a friend.
Nasir, from Ashton-under-Lyne, denied the offence throughout proceedings and had no previous convictions. Following the verdict, he was also given an extended licence period due to the risk he poses.
Detective Constable James Adams of Greater Manchester Police said the case reflected the seriousness of sexual violence and praised the victim’s courage in pursuing justice over several years.
He urged anyone affected by similar crimes to come forward, stating victims would be supported and listened to by police.