Abdul Nabizada, 36, was jailed for seven years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, August 11, after being convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman. The attack took place on November 13, 2021, in a remote area of Joppa, Edinburgh.
Instead of taking the victim home after a night out, Nabizada seized her phone and drove her to the secluded spot, where he raped her. The victim managed to escape the vehicle and contact friends, who found her distressed and frightened shortly afterwards.
CCTV evidence
CCTV footage, released by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, showed Nabizada returning to the site multiple times after the attack. The footage showed his taxi returning to the area five times. At one point, he parked the vehicle stationary while he checked out the car park on Queens Bay Crescent.
The trial heard how the victim entered his taxi after it appeared to be the vehicle she had booked. The conviction followed an extensive Police Scotland investigation, with no legitimate booking record linking the victim to Nabizada. Investigators gathered evidence from multiple sources, including CCTV, mobile phone data, and witness testimony.
Forensic evidence and court details
Forensic analysis found Nabizada's DNA on the victim's clothing, supporting the Crown case. Nabizada denied guilt, and his defence lawyer David Taylor told the court 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. Taylor said Nabizada is now concerned about the possibility of deportation. As well as the jail term, Nabizada's name was added to the sex offenders register indefinitely, and a non-harassment order was granted.
Official statements
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."
Detective Inspector Kirsty Mcarthur said: "This was a shocking attack on a woman in the city, and Nabizada will now face the consequences of his despicable actions. We remain committed to tackling sexual crimes and bringing those responsible to justice."
