Victim thought taxi was safe place

A teenager who was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver after she fell asleep in his cab thought a taxi would be safe.

Instead, she was driven to a remote location and violated.

Name suppression was lifted for taxi driver Mohammed Ahmed Khalil Daradkeh, 35, after a Christchurch District Court jury found him guilty of sexual violation, indecent assault, and abduction for sex.

Daradkeh, a single man who migrated to New Zealand from Jordan, had denied the charges, but the jury returned guilty verdicts after retiring for 23⁄ hours yesterday.

Daradkeh remained calm as the verdicts were read. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on July 29.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll warned that Daradkeh faced a ‘‘significant sentence of imprisonment’’ and a three-strikes warning at his sentencing.

The woman had been out drinking with friends before a bouncer she knew found her passed out in the toilets at The Monday Room bar.

The evidence was that she had not had much to drink, but was taking antibiotics for an eye infection.

Her tiredness may be been the result of the medication and drink mix, it was suggested at the trial.

The 20-year-old woman, who was 19 when she was sexually violated, she had no ill-feelings towards the bouncer who put her in a taxi to be delivered home.

‘‘He did the right thing. You get in a taxi – it’s a safe option. Everyone did the right thing.

‘‘A taxi should be a safe haven for people. It is what you are always taught to do.’’

Her friends knew she had been put in a cab. She had asked to leave but they were not ready to end their night out at the time. They thought she would be safe.

Daradkeh drove her to a remote location near Chaney’s Corner at the city end of the Northern Motorway.

She fell asleep in the front passenger seat on the way – the cab’s security camera was turned off after it recorded her falling asleep.

The footage was played to the jury on Wednesday, as part of the Crown case.

At Chaney’s, Daradkeh sexually violated her and kissed her on the neck and breast. His DNA was identified by an ESR scientist in all three places.

He claimed the woman had ‘‘come on’’ to him during the trip and he had realised he had feelings for her. He claimed the sexual encounter was consensual, but the jury rejected this.

The woman said friends having nights out must ‘‘stick together’’.

‘‘Make sure you look after each other.’’

She could not say why she had ended up passed out.

‘‘It could have been anything,’’ she said. ‘‘Regardless, it should not have happened.’’

The judge called for a presentence report, victim impact statement, and emotional harm report.

You get in a taxi – it’s a safe option. Everyone did the right thing. A taxi should be a safe haven for people. It is what you are always taught to do. Victim