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Posted on the 22nd April 2025 in PHTM News
GLASGOW PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING DRUNK TEEN PASSENGER
Private hire driver, Kamran Nawaz, 37, has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 19-year-old university student passenger.
Nawaz appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court last week and admitted to the crime, which occurred on May 23 of last year in the Anderston area of the city.
The court heard the victim was intoxicated at the time of the assault. Sheriff Allan McKay described the incident, stating: "I have been told that the incident happened in a taxi. He was the driver, he drove the girl to an address and there was contact before she left the taxi."
Evidence presented also indicated the car doors were locked, and the victim reported Nawaz touching her leg and thigh.
Upon arrest, Nawaz claimed: “I only gave her a hug.” However, his lawyer conceded the gravity of his actions, acknowledging it as "opportunistic conduct".
He added: "He should have noted that this was a young, vulnerable woman at the back of his taxi. He accepts that he was wrong to take advantage of the circumstances. He did not misread the signals, there were no signals."
The court also heard that Nawaz has no previous convictions and has a young family.
Sheriff McKay delivered a stern rebuke, telling Nawaz: "I am not certain it was impulsivity. I think it was opportunistic. I think you are a dangerous man and I am concerned you are driving a taxi."
Nawaz was sentenced to six months of supervision, ordered to complete 135 hours of unpaid work, and instructed to pay £300 in compensation to the victim.
Sheriff McKay warned: "This is a serious offence. If you breach the order and come back before me, I will send you to jail."
Furthermore, Nawaz will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for six months.
Following the conviction, Glasgow City Council's licensing board acted swiftly, revoking Nawaz's Private Hire Car Driver's licence on May 28, 2024. The decision to suspend the licence, which was valid until January 31, 2026, was made with immediate effect after a complaint from the Police Scotland chief constable.
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