A private hire taxi driver who raped a teenage passenger in Edinburgh has been jailed for seven years. Abdul Nabizada, 36, was convicted of rape at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 7, 2026.
The attack
The 19-year-old woman entered his taxi in the early hours of November 13, 2021, believing it to be the vehicle she had ordered. Instead of taking her home, Nabizada seized her mobile phone and drove to an isolated location in Joppa, where he raped her.
The victim managed to flee the vehicle and contacted friends, who found her distressed and terrified shortly afterwards.
Investigation and conviction
CCTV footage from Queens Bay Crescent showed Nabizada returning to the scene at least six times in just over an hour after the attack. The conviction came after an extensive Police Scotland investigation, during which officers identified the perpetrator despite there being no legitimate booking record linking the victim to him.
Investigators gathered evidence from CCTV, mobile phone data, and witness testimony to establish the movements of both the victim and the perpetrator. Forensic analysis also found Nabizada's DNA on the victim's clothing, supporting the Crown case.
Sentencing and aftermath
On August 11, Nabizada was sentenced to seven years in prison. His name has been added to the Sex Offenders' Register indefinitely, and a non-harassment order was issued.
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."
"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."
