Taxi driver sentenced to 16 months for sex assault

A cab driver found guilty of sexually assaulting a passenger in Langford two years ago has been sentenced to 16 months in jail, followed by two years of probation.

Adrian Jancey, 49, had been found guilty at a B.C. Supreme Court jury trial.

The victim attended the sentencing hearing, along with loved ones.

Justice Keith Bracken said the victim’s written impact statement was a “poignant summary” of how the attack affected her.

The woman said the assault had ruined her life and left her on medication for depression and severe anxiety. She said she used to go out frequently, but now tends to spend time at home.

Bracken said the May 2015 attack happened after the woman and a male friend got into a cab in downtown Victoria, sitting in the back seat. The woman was quite drunk, he said, summarizing the evidence heard in court. The cab arrived at the man’s home and he got out.

The woman moved into the front seat, and the cab continued into Langford. At some point, the woman fell asleep. Jancey pulled over. Video from a security camera in the cab showed him getting out of the vehicle and walking to the passenger side.

He got in with the victim, but his position blocked the camera so his actions could not be seen.

However, there was sexual touching involved, Bracken said.

The victim has no memory of what happened, but had a feeling something had taken place when she woke up the next day. She went to the hospital, where no physical injuries were found, but a complaint was made to police.

The cab was tracked down by determining when it had been on the road. Jancey was originally questioned to provide general information, but quickly emerged as a suspect. The video provided the final evidence. Jancey initially claimed the woman had touched him on the leg and in the groin area and he responded, but Bracken said the cab driver clearly took advantage of a vulnerable young woman.

“I don’t consider it likely that the victim would engage with the accused,” the judge said.

He said Jancey has expressed shame and remorse, and has been receptive to counselling. He has no previous record.

Jancey is divorced and maintains a good relationship with his son, Bracken said.

The prosecution had asked for a sentence of two years less a day and two years of probation, while the defence asked for a sentence of less than a year.

In a similar case, in December, a Yellow Cab driver in Victoria who sexually assaulted an extremely intoxicated, unconscious young woman and kept her in his taxi for 90 minutes after she paid the fare was sentenced to six months in jail followed by three years of probation.

Baljinderjit Bhangu, 30, was convicted of sexually assaulting his passenger in February 2014.