Taxi driver jailed for raping drunk passenger, 17
ATAXI driver picked up a drunk 17-year-old girl from the street and drove her to his house where he raped her, a court has heard.
The married cabbie told the girl he would take her home for free, after the teen said she had no money.
Instead he took her to a McDonald’s restaurant before driving her to his house in the Hafod area of Swansea and sexually assaulting her.
Katar Shahin denied rape, claiming the vulnerable girl was a prostitute and he had paid her £20 for sex.
But he was convicted of rape following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Police have praised the courage of the youngster in coming forward - and have branded Shahin a “sexual predator”.
The court heard that in the early hours of June 4 last year the girl was walking towards the centre of Swansea after leaving the friends she had spent the night with - she had taken alcohol, cannabis and a sleeping tablet, and was heavily intoxicated.
At the same time cabbie Shahin was finishing his shift for the night, and was driving to the McDonald’s restaurant in Cwmdu for something to eat.
The court heard the taxi driver saw the girl and pulled up beside her, asking if she needed a lift - she said she didn’t have any money but Shahin said he would take her home for free.
During the trial the girl said she only got into the vehicle because it was a taxi, and she believed all taxis were fitted with CCTV for passengers’ safety.
Shahin drove to the McDonald’s and bought his victim a Coke - he bought himself some food - then drove to his house in Aberdyberthi Street, telling the girl he had to pop in before he could take her home.
The court heard the 40-yearold told the passenger he could not leave her alone in his cab, so she agreed to go into the house with him.
In the house he offered her alcohol - which she refused - then began trying to kiss and fondle her. The girl resisted his advances but began to feel drowsy, and passed out.
The next thing she remembered was waking up naked with a used condom on the floor.
Shahin later drove her into town, leaving her outside the Full Moon pub on High Street.
The court heard the girl went home, and the following day contacted police saying she thought she had been raped but was not sure.
The girl was able to recall the house number where the attack happened.
When officers searched Shahin’s house they found a used condom containing both the defendant’s and the victim’s DNA.
The defendant initially claimed he had masturbated into the condom after giving the girl a lift home, later changing his story and saying his victim was a prostitute and he had paid her £20 for sex, claims he maintained during his trial.
However, a jury rejected his version of events, and found him guilty of rape.
Robin Rouch, for Shahin, said his client had worked since coming to the UK from Bangladesh, and regularly sent money back to his country of birth to support his family.
Shahin was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.