
An Oldham man has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl who had mistaken his car for a taxi.
Tayumur Raja, 29, was also placed on the Sex Offender Register indefinitely following a trial at Bolton Crown Court.
The incident occurred in September 2021 after the victim left a nightclub in Oldham. Having struggled to find a taxi that accepted mobile payments, she ordered another vehicle and mistakenly got into Raja’s car when he pulled up beside her.
Instead of taking her home, Raja drove her to a car park where the assault took place.
The teenager managed to escape and sought help from staff at a nearby supermarket.
Police revealed that Raja laughed during interviews when told how serious the allegations were and claimed the victim had consented.
However, a jury rejected his claims. In a powerful statement, the victim described how the attack shattered her sense of security, stating: "Before that night, I always believed things like this happened to other people; not to someone like me.
"But that night, he turned me into someone that bad things happen to, and everything I thought I knew about safety changed."
She spoke of the "real fear for my life" she felt during the attack and the five-year wait for justice that left her feeling isolated.
Despite Raja showing no remorse, the victim expressed hope that her story would help others, saying: "I hope my voice encourages others to come forward and seek help. Our voices deserve to be heard."
Detective Constable Paul Fay praised the victim's bravery, noting that her courage helped put a "dangerous sexual predator" behind bars.
He urged other survivors to come forward, promising they would be "believed and supported."

Detectives have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify after a taxi driver was punched in the face during an afternoon shift in Bournemouth.

The local council has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on two different proposals that would update the prices charged by licensed hackney carriages.

Hasan Mohammed's Skoda Superb came around a corner at speed, swerving dangerously, as a family was crossing the road after leaving a restaurant.

Thieves are believed to have targeted the cars overnight to search for cash and valuables, hitting multiple firms and leaving self-employed drivers unable to work.

Ipswich Borough Council took the swift action after the drivers did not submit medical certificates proving they met the strict safety requirements set by the DVLA.

Justin Francis, 39, and Tiffany Davis, 36, were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after targeting their victim when he pulled into Valley Gardens last September.

Fareham Borough Council has blocked two men from becoming taxi drivers after a vetting process uncovered hidden criminal convictions and a history of driving offences.

Nottingham City Council has joined forces with the Think Pink initiative to help women break into the taxi industry, where they currently make up only 6% of drivers.

The decision, reached during a licensing committee meeting on April 16, follows national guidance suggesting that cameras can be a vital tool for crime prevention.

Reading Borough Council has introduced rules that lower the maximum age for licensed vehicles from 12 down to 10 years and encourage a shift toward electric cars.

The operation involved special constables working alongside licensing officers from both Warrington Borough Council and the City of Wolverhampton Council.

The council is introducing a single fee structure to replace the old systems used in Northampton, Daventry, and South Northants.

David Brown, from Croy, attacked the 20-year-old victim in December 2023 after stopping his car in a field located between Strathpeffer and Dingwall.

Argyll and Bute Council is required by law to reassess taxi rates every 18 months, with the next set of changes scheduled to take effect in October. 

West Yorkshire Police teamed up with Bradford Council’s licensing department in February to inspect local vehicles and ensure passenger safety.

The arrest happened on March 13, after police spotted 37-year-old Ergys Rexha getting out of a private hire vehicle in Yapton to meet a customer.

An unlicensed driver and a private hire vehicle owner have been ordered to pay more than £3,000 between them following an inspection at Milton Keynes Central Railway Station.

The driver was originally issued a Fixed Penalty Notice for the act, which officials described as "both illegal and unhygienic."

Sefton licensed private hire driver has recently been before the courts after being caught plying for hire and driving without insurance

Mohammed Chowdhury, 56, of Small Heath, had his permits revoked by Tamworth Borough Council after officials decided he was no longer a "fit and proper person" to drive for the public.
