
A man who "prowled" the streets of Liverpool in a Mercedes to target lone, vulnerable teenagers has been sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Amponsah Thompson, 29, was described as a "sexual predator" who manipulated his victims during a series of attacks between 2024 and 2025.
In August 2024, Thompson encountered his first victim, an 18-year-old woman who was "very drunk" after a night out.
When she asked if his car was a taxi, Thompson "lied and pretended that he was" and drove her to his home in Tuebrook. He sexually assaulted her in the back seat but stopped and drove her home after she pretended her family was tracking her location.
Police eventually tracked him through bank transfers the woman made to pay for the ride.
While on bail, Thompson struck again in December 2024. He found another 18-year-old "extremely drunk and vulnerable" slumped against a wall. He was seen "escorting her back to his vehicle" before taking her to his flat and raping her.
Prosecutors stated Thompson was "essentially prowling on both occasions" to find victims.
Throughout 2025, Thompson repeatedly raped a third woman and threatened her with a knife.
During his sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutors labelled him "manipulative" with "little or no regard for the boundaries of and consent for sex."
Judge Brian Cummings KC declared Thompson a "dangerous offender" who poses a "significant risk to members of the public."
Thompson, who admitted to some charges but was convicted of others by a jury, must serve at least two-thirds of his 23-year term before he can be considered for parole.
He was also given an extra eight years on licence and placed on the sex offenders' register for life.
The judge noted that the "appropriate authority" may consider him for deportation following his sentence.

The changes come after the council spent 12 months gathering feedback from drivers, operators, disability groups, and residents.

This transition follows an extensive training period where humans drove the fleet across "tens of thousands of miles on London roads."

Local taxi operators initially requested a significant tariff increase last August, suggesting a minimum addition of £1 to every first half-mile.

Blacklane has unveiled a new modern luxury brand identity as the global chauffeur service eyes increased global expansion and reinforces its commitment to exceptional hospitality and business travel.

Joshua Woolley admitted to carrying out three knifepoint robberies across Stoke-on-Trent last October, using a stolen car to move between his victims.

The new rates mean a daytime trip will start at £3.78 for the first 600 yards, with an extra 21p added every 150 yards.

On 5 April at 23:50pm, a 57-year-old cabbie, a family man working for PJ cars, was driving on Fairfax Road, when he was allegedly attacked with a baseball bat by a man in his mid 20s.

Emergency crews, including firefighters and police, raced to the scene at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Great Western Road around 1:55 pm on 11 April.

Officers were called at 10.17am on Saturday 11 April by the ambulance service to reports of a serious road traffic collision involving a PHV on Thornton Road, Bradford.

Two schoolboys, aged 12 and 16, have been arrested after a stolen car crashed into a taxi.

Metro Go Taxis and Ben's Apple Cars have combined to form GoRyde Private Hire.

As the Department for Transport finishes a three-month review of AVs, legal experts warn that crash evidence must be "retained and protected from being wiped" to ensure victims can prove what happened.

A staggering 96 per cent of people who took part in a consultation voted against the change, forcing the council’s general purposes board to stick with its current strict rules.

A "Notice of Motion" warns that a legal loophole allows drivers licensed as far away as Wolverhampton, Stoke, and Sefton to work in the borough, often avoiding the strict rules faced by local cabbies.

The new operator is making a bold pledge to only use drivers licensed by Portsmouth City Council, specifically avoiding using drivers licensed in Wolverhampton.

Under the strict enforcement, any driver caught without the required signage will face an immediate suspension with the incident recorded on their driver record.

Aamar Shahzad Ahmed, 47, and Khalid Mahmood, 60, both pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court to plying for hire without a licence and driving without insurance.

Officers responded to the call around 5pm regarding a group of "suspicious males" who fled the scene in a cab, which was intercepted by response teams shortly after on New Lane.

Basildon Borough Council announced: "Taxi drivers are a vital part of Basildon. They keep our communities moving, support residents at all hours, and play a key role in our local economy.

Patons Insurance has embarked on a new course with Admiral Business to support the launch of a new taxi insurance product to the UK market.
