
A "dangerous individual" who brutally raped a 14-year-old girl after picking her up from an Aberdeen taxi rank has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Victor Popa, 35, lured the intoxicated teenager into his car in January 2023 by offering her a lift home, only to carry out a "predatory and deeply distressing" attack with "significant force" that a judge said has left the victim living a "waking nightmare."
The court heard the schoolgirl had become separated from friends and was waiting at a rank when Popa, a stranger who was not a taxi driver, pulled up.
Despite the girl telling him her age and that she was "really drunk," he drove her to a secluded area where he subjected her to a serious sexual assault while she repeatedly "blanked out."
Judge Alison Stirling noted that the victim has since suffered from complex PTSD and was forced to drop out of school due to bullying.
"The emotional impact of the rape was overwhelming, and she thinks it will be everlasting," the judge said, adding that the girl felt "dirty and humiliated" by the ordeal.
Popa denied the charges, claiming the encounter was consensual and that the girl had lied about her age, but he was convicted following a trial that utilised CCTV, text messages, and medical evidence.
Prosecutors praised the girl’s immense bravery, with Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook stating: "This was a predatory and deeply distressing attack on a child who was simply trying to get home safely."
In addition to his jail term, Popa has been placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and is banned from ever contacting his victim.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven McDonald emphasised the risk Popa posed to the community, noting he "preyed on this young girl's vulnerability" during an incident that was "extremely frightening for the girl, who simply wanted to get home."

Rapaid, a charity founded in Swindon to combat knife crime, is providing the high-pressure bandages to help drivers provide "immediate help that could save lives" before paramedics arrive.

Jason Edgar, 40, summoned the PHV to Riverside Road in Huntingdon just after midnight on November 28, but the journey quickly turned into a life-threatening ordeal for the driver.

Barnsley taxi drivers are pushing back against plans to raise licensing fees, warning that the extra costs come at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet.

Following a recent review, officials discovered a 28% shortfall in licensing income, a discrepancy blamed on the chaotic state of the council’s accounts following a 2021 cyberattack.

Following their acquisition last month by the Cardiff-based Veezu Group, the historic Avenue Taxis and fellow operator CabsSmart are rebranding to create a powerhouse regional service.

Brian Clare pleaded guilty to racially aggravated assault at Warrington Magistrates Court following the incident, which began when he asked the driver where he was from.

The operation, which took place on Saturday, March 14, targeted unlicensed drivers and dangerous vehicles in Preston, Chorley, and South Ribble.

Under the new rules, any new application for a hackney carriage licence must be for a vehicle that is either wheelchair-accessible, zero-emission, or a hybrid.

Transport for London (TfL), working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), is trialling a new type of radar?based speed camera at up to 10 sites across the capital.

Walter Burke, 63, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving following a trial that featured a dramatic courtroom demonstration of his failure to react.

Transport for London has confirmed a wave of price increases that will force taxi and private hire drivers to pay significantly more for their licences and tests.

The driver was reportedly approached by three men wearing face coverings who "threatened him with a knife and stole £200" before running away.

Aqeel Shakeel’s appeal was dismissed at Dudley Magistrates' Court following a council investigation that used "state-of-the-art technology" to prove his Audi A4 was equipped with the deceptive plates.

Council officers had suggested that future talks should only include senior staff and drivers to avoid "political bias" and "maintain impartiality in the council’s licensing functions."

The move comes as the county struggles with a sharp decline in taxi numbers, with figures showing that more than a fifth of licensed drivers - a total of 218 - have left the trade since the pandemic.

According to the RAC, average petrol prices have hit 139.64p a litre since the violence began, leaving many drivers struggling to stay profitable.

Terrence Harrington pleaded guilty to attacking driver Mahmoud Arras on December 20, claiming he was left at the "wrong street" while under the influence of eight pints of cider.

The move comes as the Granite City struggles with a severe driver shortage, with only 508 licensed taxis currently operating - less than half of the 1,079 allowed under the city's official limit.

While none of the drivers faced criminal prosecution between 2022 and 2024, officials confirmed that each individual failed to meet the city’s strict safety criteria.

The operation was led by 54-year-old Madjid Belabes, an Uber Eats driver who pocketed nearly £290,000 by charging people £1,200 each to be transported to mainland Europe.
