Damien Watson, a 36-year-old van driver, pretended to be an Uber driver to kidnap a terrified woman outside Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday. Watson, of no fixed address but formerly of Liscard, Wirral, admitted kidnap and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and was jailed for five and a half years.
Predatory behaviour and planning
The court heard that Watson had been driving around Liverpool city centre in his white van, looking for a vulnerable female to target. He parked near the Shankly Gates at Anfield, where the victim, who had attended an event, mistook his van for her booked Uber. After she got in, Watson drove her to a secluded alleyway in Bootle, locking the doors and demanding she expose herself.
Prosecutor Neil Bisarya said the victim received a notification that her Uber had been cancelled, causing alarm. When she asked where she was, Watson replied, "You're in Bootle now love." The woman tried to open the door but found it locked. Watson repeated his demand four times in an aggressive manner before unbuckling his seatbelt. The victim, fearing rape, complied under duress.
Victim's ordeal and courage
The victim exposed her breasts twice during the 20-25 minute ordeal. She began hyperventilating, feigning a panic attack to prevent further escalation. Watson eventually drove her to the junction of Berry Street and Seel Street in the city centre and let her out. Police later found that Watson had set up his mobile phone on the centre console to film the incident.
Bisarya told the court: "This was not opportunistic. It was planned, searching for a vulnerable female." The victim's courage was praised by Recorder Anna Pope KC, who said: "Your victim showed incredible courage and fortitude. She thought, that night, that you were going to rape her."
Defence and remorse
Watson had no previous convictions. His defence lawyer, David Woods, said Watson was "extremely remorseful and sorry," describing the offending as "out of character." Woods noted that Watson had been grieving a friend's death and was a delivery driver who worked late nights. He added: "This is not a classic kidnapping case... There was no violence."
Recorder Pope rejected the notion of no violence, highlighting the psychological terror. She said: "Women on a night out in Liverpool have every right to feel safe. Anyone who seeks out lone women then goes on to commit serious offences can expect significant punishment."
Sentence and registration
Watson was sentenced to five and a half years in prison. He was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and will be required to sign the sex offenders' register for life. The court noted the impact on his family, including his six-year-old son with autism.
