A MINICAB driver was jailed yesterday (June 2) for sexually assaulting a female passenger.

Nazrul Islam, from Bow, was sentenced to 14 months in prison for attacking the 29-year-old as she left his VW Bora cab in the early hours of June 14 last year.

Islam, aged 35, had tried to kiss and grope the woman after dropping her home in Orpington after a night out.

She managed to escape before Islam, a married father-of-three, chased her and attempted to force his way into her building.

Islam was arrested at his home on June 17.

He denied sexual assaulting the woman, claiming there had been a disagreement over the fare.

But he was found guilty at Croydon Crown Court.

He was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.2315758.0.minicab_driver_sexually_assaulted_woman.php

A BOGUS cab driver who raped a partygoer after she fled a row with her boyfriend was jailed for eight years on Friday.

Mohammed Ali, 36, of Benworth Street, Bow, prowled the streets of Soho looking for passengers desperate to get home.

He spotted his 35-year-old victim in Greek Street and offered her a lift, claiming to be a legitimate driver.

But when the woman, who had been drinking after a tiff with her lover, told Ali she had no cash, he drove her to a friend's place in the Isle of Dogs, forced her to strip and beat her before raping her.

The woman had earlier told Snaresbrook Crown Court that when Ali, who is married with two children, had made a pass at her, she snapped: "I'm not going to have sex with you."

But then the leering monster barked: "Take your clothes off."

"He beat me into submission then raped me" she said.

Full story in today's Tower Hamlets Recorder.

http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/content/newham/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsTowerHam&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsnewham&itemid=WeED04%20Jun%202008%2008%3A51%3A36%3A343