Abdul Nabizada, 36, was jailed for seven years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, August 11, after being found guilty of raping a 19-year-old passenger. The conviction followed a trial at the same court the previous month.
Attack in November 2021
The victim boarded Nabizada's taxi in the early hours of 13 November 2021, believing it to be the vehicle she had booked. Instead of driving her home, Nabizada snatched her mobile phone and drove to an isolated spot in Joppa, where he carried out the rape.
The young woman managed to flee the vehicle and contacted friends, who found her distressed and terrified shortly afterwards. CCTV footage from Queens Bay Crescent later showed Nabizada making repeated visits to the area following the attack.
Investigation and evidence
The conviction came after an extensive investigation by Police Scotland. Officers faced the challenge of identifying the perpetrator despite there being no legitimate booking record connecting the victim to Nabizada, reports the Daily Record.
Investigators gathered and scrutinised evidence from numerous sources, including CCTV footage, mobile phone data and witness statements, which helped establish the movements of both the victim and the offender. Forensic examination also revealed Nabizada's DNA on the victim's clothing, providing additional evidence to support the Crown's case.
Sentencing and background
Judge John Morris KC described it as a "crime of opportunism". Nabizada maintained his innocence throughout, with defence lawyer David Taylor informing the court of his client's background working for the US, Danish and UK armed forces – chiefly as an interpreter – in his native Afghanistan.
The court heard he presently holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK and had submitted an application for British citizenship. Mr Taylor stated that Nabizada is now apprehensive about the prospect of deportation following his conviction.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Nabizada was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, and a non-harassment order was also imposed.
Reactions from officials
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.
"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.
"While stranger offending is rare, Scotland's prosecutors treat every report of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, recognising the profound and lasting impact these crimes have on victims and communities. I hope this conviction provides reassurance that reports will be thoroughly investigated and that COPFS will work with policing partners to ensure offenders are held accountable."
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. I'd encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us.
"We'll thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."
