Abdul Nabizada, 36, a former translator for the British Army, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday at the High Court in Edinburgh after being found guilty of raping a teenage taxi passenger.
Nabizada, who became a taxi driver after moving to Scotland from Afghanistan, failed to drive the 19-year-old victim home after a night out in November 2021. Instead, he took her mobile phone and drove her to a secluded area in Joppa, near Edinburgh, where he attacked her.
Details of the Attack
The court heard that Nabizada detained the victim against her will, seized her phone, touched her body, and struggled with her before raping her. The victim escaped from the vehicle and contacted friends, who found her distressed and frightened shortly afterward. CCTV footage from Queens Bay Crescent showed Nabizada repeatedly returning to the area after the attack.
Judge John Morris KC described the crime as a “crime of opportunism” and noted the jury’s unanimous conviction. He said: “The jury has unanimously convicted you of committing a serious sexual assault on a vulnerable woman. The offence is an extremely serious one.” He added that the crime had a “long-lasting impact” on the victim, as described in her victim impact statement.
Background and Sentencing
The court was told that Nabizada worked for the US, Danish, and UK militaries as an interpreter in Afghanistan before coming to Scotland. He currently has indefinite leave to remain in the UK and had applied for British citizenship. Defence lawyer David Taylor said Nabizada is concerned about the possibility of deportation following his conviction.
Judge Morris took into account positive references submitted on Nabizada’s behalf, his lack of prior convictions, and that he is a “family man” with four children. In addition to the seven-year prison sentence, Nabizada was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and ordered not to contact or approach the victim.
Reactions and Impact
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court sexual offences, praised the victim’s courage and the police work involved. She said: “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.”
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.” She encouraged victims to come forward, noting that specially trained officers and partner agencies are available to provide support.
