Damian Watson, a 36-year-old father of three, posed as an Uber driver to kidnap a woman from outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. He locked her in his van and demanded she expose her breasts, filming the incident with his phone. On Friday, Liverpool Crown Court sentenced him to five-and-a-half years in prison for kidnap and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
The Crime: A Predatory Plan
Watson, of no fixed address but formerly of Liscard, Wirral, drove around Liverpool city centre in his white van before parking near the Shankly Gates at Anfield Stadium. Prosecuting, Neil Bisarya said Watson was “looking for a vulnerable female to target and to commit a sexual offence.” Shortly after 11:30 pm, a woman who had attended an event at Anfield booked an Uber to take her to Concert Square. She mistakenly entered Watson’s van, believing it to be her taxi.
Watson asked her destination but instead drove her to a secluded alleyway in Bootle. When the woman noticed she didn’t recognize the area and received a notification that her Uber had been cancelled, she panicked. Watson told her, “You’re in Bootle now love.” He then locked the doors and demanded she expose her breasts, repeating the request aggressively four times. Fearing he would rape her, she complied. Watson filmed the ordeal by attaching his phone to the center console.
Victim’s Ordeal and Courage
The victim was kept captive for 20 to 25 minutes. She exposed herself twice under duress, and Watson asked her to move so he could see better. Only when she began hyperventilating did he stop his demands. He eventually drove her to the junction of Berry Street and Seel Street in the city centre and let her out. The court heard she showed “incredible courage and fortitude.” Recorder Anna Pope KC said, “Your victim was terrified. She thought, that night, that you were going to rape her.”
Defense and Sentencing
Watson initially denied making sexual requests but later admitted kidnap and the sexual offence. His defense lawyer, David Woods, argued the crime was out of character, noting Watson had no previous convictions, worked as a newspaper delivery driver, and was grieving a friend’s death. Woods said Watson was “extremely remorseful” and that his behavior changed when the victim became distressed.
However, Recorder Pope emphasized the pre-planning: “You prepared for your offending by setting up your mobile phone so that the camera was facing the back seat. This demonstrates a significant degree of pre-planning.” She added, “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.”
Additional Orders and Impact
Watson was handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and must sign the sex offenders’ register for life. His imprisonment will impact his three children, including a six-year-old son with autism. The judge acknowledged “another side to your character” but stressed the severity of the predatory behavior.
