Posted on the 11th August 2026 in PHTM News

FORMER ARMY TRANSLATOR TURNED PH DRIVER JAILED FOR SEVEN YEARS FOR RAPING TEENAGE PASSENGER

A former military translator who became a private hire driver after moving to Scotland from Afghanistan has been sentenced to seven years in prison for raping a teenage passenger.

Abdul Nabizada, 36, was today sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh after being found guilty of a horrific attack on a 19-year-old woman who had trusted him to take her home safely following a night out in November 2021.

Instead of driving the vulnerable, intoxicated passenger to her destination, Nabizada seized her mobile phone, drove her to a secluded area of Joppa near Edinburgh, detained her against her will, and subjected her to a serious sexual assault.

Judge John Morris KC described the crime as a "crime of opportunism," noting that the victim "was particularly vulnerable because she was intoxicated and that should have been obvious to you" given that he was responsible for transporting her home.

The victim managed to escape from the vehicle and find her friends, who discovered her distressed and frightened before reporting the terrifying ordeal to the authorities.

Police used CCTV footage, mobile phone data, witness testimony, and DNA found on the victim's clothing to track down Nabizada, with cameras showing him repeatedly returning to the scene of the crime in the hours following the attack.

During the court proceedings, Nabizada continued to deny his guilt. His defence lawyer, David Taylor, highlighted that Nabizada had previously worked as an interpreter for the US, Danish, and UK militaries in Afghanistan, currently held indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and was now facing concerns over potential deportation.

Despite submitting positive references and noting he was a family man with no prior convictions, Judge Morris handed down a seven-year prison sentence, placed him on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, and issued a non-contact order to protect the victim.

Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, condemned the betrayal of trust, stating that the victim: "should have been able to trust that her journey home would be safe. Instead, she was seriously sexually assaulted by a private hire driver who took advantage of her vulnerability and abused his position resulting in a deeply traumatic experience."

Detective Inspector Kirsty McArthur praised the brave cooperation of the victim and the thorough police investigation, emphasising that authorities remain fully committed to bringing perpetrators of sexual crimes to justice.


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