A taxi driver who took a passenger to a remote location before raping her in a “sickening attack” has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Married Mohammed Shahin picked up the 20-year-old in Leeds city centre after she had been on a night out but then drove to a secluded spot near, thought to be near Menston.
The terrified woman, who had fallen asleep en route, awoke to find Shahin, 28, attacking her.
After the rape, he then casually dropped her off close to her home.
Police said after picking her up Shahin had turned off the GPS tracking system that would have allowed his taxi firm to monitor his location – suggesting he had sinister motives from the outset.
Det Chief Insp Scott Wood, of West Yorkshire Police’s homicide and major inquiry team, said: “Shahin abused of his position as a private hire driver to take advantage of a vulnerable woman and we are pleased to see him behind bars for the extremely serious crimes he committed.
“He subjected his victim to a sickening attack and we would like to give credit to her bravery in the way she dealt with the situation and assisted the police in bringing Shahin to justice.”
Private hire driver Shahin, of Fitzroy Road, Bradford, had been meant to pick up a pre-booked fare when he arrived in Leeds city centre in the early hours of Sunday, September 30, last year. But he targeted his victim after she flagged him down on Duncan Street.
His taxi office then tried to contact him to find out where he was, but he had turned off his communication system.
Shahin initially told police he had lent his car to someone else on the night of the attack. He then admitted having sex with the woman, but claimed she had consented.
But he pleaded guilty to rape when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court.
Shahin will be deported to his home country of Bangladesh after serving his sentence.