Rapist, 41, who posed as a taxi driver to sexually assault women he picked up is jailed for 22 years

‘Predatory’ rapist, 41, who posed as a taxi driver to kidnap and sexually assault women he picked up outside nightclubs is jailed for 22 years after brave victim agreed to take his number and passed it on to police

  • Thasawar Iqbal, 41, was jailed for 22 years at Birmingham Crown Court
  • He targeted lone women on nights out by luring them into his fake taxi  

A rapist who posed as a taxi driver to kidnap and sexually assault women he picked up outside nightclubs has been jailed for 22 years.

Thasawar Iqbal, 41, targeted lone women on nights out in Birmingham by luring them into his bogus cab.

A court heard the monster sexually assaulted two victims a few months apart, raping the second woman while on bail for attacking the other.

The second victim agreed to have Iqbal’s number during the attack, which she passed on to police and he was subsequently arrested and charged. 

The rapist first struck by offering a woman a lift home from the city centre while pretending to be taxi driver on December 19, 2021.

Thasawar Iqbal, 41, (pictured) targeted lone women on nights out in Birmingham by luring them into his bogus cab

Iqbal drove the woman from Digbeth to an unknown location, taking drugs while driving and offering them to her along with alcohol, which she refused.

He made sexual advances towards the woman before stopping at a house, attempting to take her inside but she managed to escape and hide.

He was later arrested and bailed, but struck again in the Handsworth Wood area of the city in the early hours of July 10 last year. 

Iqbal picked up another woman as she walked alone, blocking her path and offering her a lift which she initially refused.

He continued to follow the woman and persuaded her that he was a taxi driver and lied that he would get her home safely.

He took her to a local pub carpark where he sexually assaulted her. He then offered to drop her home and asked for her phone number.

The quick-thinking victim agreed to have Iqbal’s number, which she passed on to police and Iqbal was subsequently arrested and charged.

Iqbal, of no fixed abode but from the Birmingham area, was found guilty of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault and rape.

Iqbal was jailed for 22 years at Birmingham Crown Court (pictured) last Friday (File image)

Iqbal was jailed for 22 years at Birmingham Crown Court (pictured) last Friday (File image) 

He was jailed for 22 years at Birmingham Crown Court last Friday.

Detective Constable Soniya Ram from West Midlands Police’s specialist Public Protection Unit, said: ‘Iqbal is a predatory sexual offender.

‘Although an opportunist his actions were persistent and pre-planned, posing as a taxi driver to pick up young vulnerable women, driving them to locations of his choice and sexually abusing them.

‘He put both women through such fear and sexual violence, completely disregarding the fact he was already being investigated when he committed further offences in July last year.

‘The women endured traumatic ordeals but bravely came forward to recount what happened to them to help us apprehend him.

‘With the help of the Crown Prosecution Service we remanded him in custody from July 2022 to prevent others becoming victims.

‘Iqbal’s conviction is testament to both women’s courageous actions and, thankfully, he is now off the streets and will be behind bars for a long time.’

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