Private hire taxi driver jailed after 'deeply traumatic' rape of teenager in secluded area of Edinburgh
He drove the teenager to a secluded location instead of to her home
A private hire taxi driver who raped a teenage girl in the back of his vehicle in Edinburgh has been jailed for seven years.
Abdul Nabizada, 36, who became a private hire taxi driver after he arrived in Scotland from Afghanistan, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday after being found guilty at a trial last month.
The court previously heard that Nabizada, a former translator for the British Army, had picked up a 19-year-old girl in the early hours of November 13, 2021.
But instead of taking her home, Nabizada drove her to Queens Bay Crescent in Joppa where he held her against her will, took her mobile phone, struggled with her and then raped her.
The victim managed to escape from the vehicle and contact her friends, who found her distressed and frightened a short time later.
The “deeply traumatic” incident was reported to police, with an investigation having been launched to find the rapist. Using CCTV footage, mobile photo data and witness testimony, officers were able track down Nabizada, whose DNA was also found on the victim’s clothing.
CCTV footage from a Queens Bay Crescent car park shows Nabizada repeatedly return to the area in his vehicle in the hours after the attack.
Judge John Morris KC called it a “crime of opportunism”.
Nabizada continued to deny his guilt, and defence lawyer David Taylor told the court how he came to Scotland after working for the US, Danish and UK militaries – primarily as an interpreter – in his homeland of Afghanistan.
The court was told he currently has indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and had applied for British citizenship.
Mr Taylor said Nabizada is now concerned about the possibility of deportation in light of his conviction.
Judge Morris sentenced Nabizada to seven years in prison and he was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
He was also ordered not to contact or approach the victim.
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: "This conviction is the result of the victim's courage in coming forward and the determined work of police officers to uncover what happened that night.
"Officers had to piece together evidence from a range of sources to identify the offender and build the case that was presented in court.
“The victim should have been able to trust that her journey home would be safe.
“Instead, she was seriously sexually assaulted by a taxi driver who took advantage of her vulnerability and abused his position resulting in a deeply traumatic experience.
“While stranger offending is rare, Scotland’s prosecutors treat every report of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, recognising the profound and lasting impact these crimes have on victims and communities.
"I hope this conviction provides reassurance that reports will be thoroughly investigated and that COPFS will work with policing partners to ensure offenders are held accountable."