Fake taxi driver jailed for 12 years for raping University of Leeds student

On December 13 2018, the victim had spent a night out with friends and got into the back of Muhanad Adem's car, thinking it was a taxi.

She typed the postcode of her address into Adem’s phone, but he drove in a different direction, and then he raped her in the back of his vehicle, the court heard.

He then drove off again, but the victim managed to escape through the car window, and alert friends that she had been raped.

A jury took less than three hours to reach a unanimous guilty verdict on December 20, 2019.

Claire MacDonald from the CPS said: “This was a brutal and opportunistic attack, late at night on a vulnerable young woman, who has been left devastated. The impact of sexual violence of this kind goes far beyond any physical injury and its effects for the victim are long-lasting and traumatising.

“I would like to pay tribute to the victim who has displayed immense courage and dignity during the investigation and prosecution. As a result Adem is today beginning a lengthy prison sentence.

“Our thoughts remain with her, as they have been throughout.”