A predatory taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger as she slept in the front seat of his car has been jailed.

Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019.

Newcastle Crown Court was told how the black cab driver had picked up the female student from outside a city centre bar in the early hours of the morning.

She got into the front seat and asked to be taken to her home address but she fell asleep during the journey.

The terrified victim awoke a short time later to find Hoque had parked in a secluded street and was sexually assaulting her.

She screamed at the driver who then transported her to her to a friend’ address where the victim reported what had happened to police.

The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address.

But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.

On Tuesday Hoque, of Croydon Road, Newcastle, was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court.

Following the case, the investigating officer at Northumbria Police praised the bravery the victim had shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.

Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes.

“Hoque tried to claim this was because of her intoxication but forensic analysis showed he had physical contact with her and the mountain of evidence against him resulted in a guilty plea.

“He was a licenced taxi driver who had undergone vulnerability training and was in a position of trust. His sole duty should have been getting his customer home safely.

“Instead he abused that position of trust and I welcome the significant custodial sentence handed to this sexual predator by the judge.

“This result would not have been possible if it were not for the bravery of the victim in this case and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for having the courage to come forward.

“We hope this sentencing can bring her some comfort and shows other victims of sexual assault that we will do everything in our power to put predators behind bars.”

In a victim impact statement read during the sentencing hearing, Hoque’s victim said her abuser took advantage of her ‘in the worst possible way’.

She said: “This assault on me occurred more than two years ago and yet I cannot shake the memory of this event from my mind.

“The nightmares are still happening, the night terrors still wake me up breathless and panicking, the anxiety of traveling in a taxi is still there.

“But for the last two years this man has denied what he did. He has lied continuously to the Police in his interviews and he has sought out every way to avoid being held responsible.

“I don't believe he has one ounce of remorse in his body. He is simply pleading guilty because the evidence against him is overwhelming and he has been backed into a comer.

“I can’t help wondering how many other single drunk females have climbed into his taxi like me and suffered similar things. I doubt I was the first but I hope I will be the last.”

Anyone who has been a victim of any sexual assault is urged to contact police via the 'Tell Us Something' page on the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101.

https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/latest-news/2021/july/predatory-taxi-driver-jailed-after-sexually-assaulting-student-who-fell-asleep-in-his-car/

On 30/10/2023 09:27 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> A predatory taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger as she slept in the front seat of his car has been jailed.>
> Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019.
> Newcastle Crown Court was told how the black cab driver had picked up the female student from outside a city centre bar in the early hours of the morning.
>
> She got into the front seat and asked to be taken to her home address but she fell asleep during the journey.

A "black cab" (they mean a metropolitan taxicab of whatever colour) with
a front seat other than the driver's seat?

That's the space for luggage. It contains no seat.

Or, given the plural references to "car", perhaps they meant that he was
a cab (ie, taxi) driver who was black?

> The terrified victim awoke a short time later to find Hoque had parked in a secluded street and was sexually assaulting her.
> She screamed at the driver who then transported her to her to a friend’ address where the victim reported what had happened to police.
> The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address.
> But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.

"...DNA on the victim..."

The mind boggles.

> On Tuesday Hoque, of Croydon Road, Newcastle, was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court.
> Following the case, the investigating officer at Northumbria Police praised the bravery the victim had shown throughout the investigation and subsequent court proceedings.
> Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes.
> “Hoque tried to claim this was because of her intoxication but forensic analysis showed he had physical contact with her and the mountain of evidence against him resulted in a guilty plea.
> “He was a licenced taxi driver who had undergone vulnerability training and was in a position of trust. His sole duty should have been getting his customer home safely.
> “Instead he abused that position of trust and I welcome the significant custodial sentence handed to this sexual predator by the judge.
> “This result would not have been possible if it were not for the bravery of the victim in this case and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for having the courage to come forward.
> “We hope this sentencing can bring her some comfort and shows other victims of sexual assault that we will do everything in our power to put predators behind bars.”
> In a victim impact statement read during the sentencing hearing, Hoque’s victim said her abuser took advantage of her ‘in the worst possible way’.
> She said: “This assault on me occurred more than two years ago and yet I cannot shake the memory of this event from my mind.
> “The nightmares are still happening, the night terrors still wake me up breathless and panicking, the anxiety of traveling in a taxi is still there.
> “But for the last two years this man has denied what he did. He has lied continuously to the Police in his interviews and he has sought out every way to avoid being held responsible.
> “I don't believe he has one ounce of remorse in his body. He is simply pleading guilty because the evidence against him is overwhelming and he has been backed into a comer.

What is a comer?

> “I can’t help wondering how many other single drunk females have climbed into his taxi like me and suffered similar things. I doubt I was the first but I hope I will be the last.”

It is vanishingly unlikely that he will be granted a new vocational
licence by any licencing authority. The Soham case ensured that, at least.

> Anyone who has been a victim of any sexual assault is urged to contact police via the 'Tell Us Something' page on the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101.

> https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/latest-news/2021/july/predatory-taxi-driver-jailed-after-sexually-assaulting-student-who-fell-asleep-in-his-car/

QUOTE: The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address. But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.On Tuesday Hoque, of Croydon Road, Newcastle, was jailed for eight years at Newcastle Crown Court. ENDS

Only fessed up when the DNA nailed him, the piece of scum.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

Old news: 2021 10 AUG 15:44

> https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/latest-news/2021/july/predatory-taxi-driver-jailed-after-sexually-assaulting-student-who-fell-asleep-in-his-car/

--
Spike

QUOTE:
Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019. ENDS

Not a bad stretch for rape - they usually get away with it.

On 30/10/2023 04:28 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE:
> Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019. ENDS

> Not a bad stretch for rape - they usually get away with it.

Was it a rape?

The meeja usually aren't at all coy about using the word, if it's relevant.

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:
> QUOTE:
> Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he
> drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019. ENDS
>
> Not a bad stretch for rape - they usually get away with it.

Anyone else spot the obvious rejoinder there?

--
Spike

QUOTE: Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her in April 2019. ENDS

Can we have another doubling of this too lenient sentence again, like what happened yesterday?

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: Bozlul Hoque, 44, has been sentenced to eight years behind bars
> after he drove his 21-year-old victim to a secluded street and abused her
> in April 2019. ENDS

> Can we have another doubling of this too lenient sentence again, like
> what happened yesterday?

It’s not Snaresbrook!

--
Spike

QUOTE: The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address. ENDS

What does this scrote's wife think of his depraved attack?

On 31/10/2023 04:09 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address. ENDS
>
> What does this scrote's wife think of his depraved attack?

What did she say when you asked her?

QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS

They can identify dogs from the DNA in their excrement now - the mind boggles.

On 31/10/2023 04:04 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS
>
> They can identify dogs from the DNA in their excrement now - the mind boggles.

Is that how they ID'd you at the hospital?

On Tuesday, 31 October 2023 at 16:04:07 UTC, Simon Mason wrote:
> QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS
>
> They can identify dogs from the DNA in their excrement now - the mind boggles.
Our local council is fining dog owners nowadays.

On 31/10/2023 04:49 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

> On Tuesday, 31 October 2023 at 16:04:07 UTC, Simon Mason wrote:
>> QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS
>>
>> They can identify dogs from the DNA in their excrement now - the mind boggles.

Were you identified at the hospital by that method?

QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS

DNA is not 100% reliable - despite what the hanging advocates claim.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE: A Devon man wrongly accused of raping a woman in Manchester has spoken of his anger over a DNA mistake which led to the charge.

Charges were dropped against the man when it emerged that a DNA sample was contaminated in the laboratories of Teddington-based LGC Forensics.

The man also said he hoped that the real rapist would be caught.

LGC Forensics said it deeply regretted that forensic evidence was contaminated in one of its laboratories.
'Justice for victim'

The man, who was facing a trial accused of raping the woman at Plant Hill Park, Blackley, in October, said: "I am relieved that I have been found not guilty. But then I always was not guilty."

He added: "I am angry that I was falsely accused. I am angry about the amount of pain it has put me and my family through.

"I sincerely hope that justice comes for the victim and that the true rapist is caught."

His solicitor Philippa Jeffries, who called for a public inquiry, said the man is considering legal action.

She said: "It would appear our client's DNA was never present in the sample taken from the rape victim.

"As such our client was never implicated in this offence until his DNA was introduced to the victim's sample whilst being processed at their laboratory in Teddington.

"We remain fearful for any defendant indicted on DNA or other scientific evidence that has been processed, is being processed or will be processed through LGC's laboratory."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is reviewing some cases in which the same company processed forensic evidence.
'Tragic incident'

GMP Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said when the man was arrested he was "absolutely adamant that he had never been to Manchester so that gave us some concern".

Mr Heywood added: "We went back to the supplier who was absolutely adamant that this was not the case so we charged the man with Crown Prosecution Service support.

"This week we were contacted by the supplier who said unfortunately the sample was contaminated."

Mr Heywood said he believed this was "a tragic but isolated incident".

A statement from LGC Forensics said: "LGC has already identified the cause of this contamination and has taken steps to ensure that it cannot happen again.

"Our procedure for tracking, identifying and reporting potential contamination will be immediately reviewed and updated."

The firm declined to reveal the circumstances surrounding the mistake. ENDS

Simon Mason <swldxer1964@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, 31 October 2023 at 16:04:07 UTC, Simon Mason wrote:
>> QUOTE: But forensic examination found his DNA on the victim and he was
>> charged with sexual assault and later pleaded guilty at court.ENDS

>> They can identify dogs from the DNA in their excrement now - the mind boggles.
> Our local council is fining dog owners nowadays.

Local Councils can’t issue fines.

--
Spike

QUOTE: The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address. ENDS

Why did he drive off then if he had no destination?

On 01/11/2023 11:33 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: The married father-of-three was arrested but denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed she had been intoxicated and unable to provide him with her address. ENDS
>
> Why did he drive off then if he had no destination?

Are an address and a general location the same thing?

My understanding is that taxi passengers first state the locale to which
they wish to be driven and even on approaching their destination,
usually don't specify an address, using time-honoured formulations such
as "Anywhere on the left here...".

QUOTE: Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes. ENDS

How did they know it would take 5 minutes if the destination was unknown?

On 01/11/2023 11:43 am, Simon Mason wrote:

> QUOTE: Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes. ENDS
>
> How did they know it would take 5 minutes if the destination was unknown?

The police presumably knew where the hiring started (that being crucial
evidence) and also knew the address of the complainant.

Use your brain (there's a difficulty there for you, I know) and the
answers are not necessarily the puzzle you "think" them to be.

QUOTE: “But for the last two years this man has denied what he did. He has lied continuously to the Police in his interviews and he has sought out every way to avoid being held responsible. ENDS

Standard driver MOA - deny everything.

QUOTE: Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes. ENDS

I would have been left with severe anxiety if I'd have been taken on a 30 minute cab ride that should have taken "five minutes" too! :-0

Simon Mason <swldxer1958@gmail.com> wrote:

> QUOTE: Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “This should have been a
> five minute journey but we were able to use CCTV and mobile phone data to
> prove the victim was in the car for 30 minutes. ENDS

> I would have been left with severe anxiety if I'd have been taken on a 30
> minute cab ride that should have taken "five minutes" too! :-0

Perhaps you are inured to being drunk, whereas the lady concerned might not
have been?

--
Spike

A taxi driver who preyed on a drunk student by subjecting her to a serious sex attack has been jailed for eight years.

Bozlul Hoque abused his position of trust after picking up the 20-year-old in Newcastle city centre when she became separated from her friends.

Instead of taking her home, he took her to a secluded street and molested her.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the attack has ruined her life and and left her suffering nightmares and she has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.

In a victim impact statement, Hoque’s victim said her abuser took advantage of her "in the worst possible way".

She said: “This assault on me occurred more than two years ago and yet I cannot shake the memory of this event from my mind.

“The nightmares are still happening, the night terrors still wake me up breathless and panicking, the anxiety of travelling in a taxi is still there.

“But for the last two years this man has denied what he did. He has lied continuously to the police in his interviews and he has sought out every way to avoid being held responsible.

“I don't believe he has one ounce of remorse in his body. He is simply pleading guilty because the evidence against him is overwhelming and he has been backed into a comer.

“I can’t help wondering how many other single drunk females have climbed into his taxi like me and suffered similar things. I doubt I was the first but I hope I will be the last.”

She added that she found herself having to sleep in her mum's bed on occasions and has deliberately over-eaten at times to try to make herself unattractive to other potential abusers.

Vince Ward, prosecuting, added: "She's had nightmares involving her being trapped inside a taxi.

The court heard the victim's memory of what happened is hazy but she remembers becoming aware of what he was doing, pulling his hand away and noticing her underwear was missing.

She was so drunk she couldn't stand up and vomited after getting to her friend's home.

Police managed to track down Hoque as the culprit by analysing CCTV in the city centre.

Swabs also found his DNA in the victim's body.

The 44-year-old, of Croydon Road, Arthurs Hill, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to sexual assault by penetration.

He was jailed for eight years - of which he must serve up to two-thirds in custody - and was made subject to an indefinite restraining order and must sign the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Recorder Tom Moran said the victim should have been able to trust Hoque to get her home safely.

"Instead, you saw the opportunity to sexually abuse her and in doing so, abused your trusted position as a taxi driver," the judge said.

"She was confused, didn't know where she was and was petrified.

"You selected her once you saw the state she was in as someone who was likely to be too drunk to resist."

The judge said the victim later recalled Hoque instructing her in an aggressive tone of voice to remove her underwear.

He added that there was "severe psychological harm".

Robin Patton, defending, said: "The only thing that can be said in his favour is he had the good sense to plead guilty.

"He has been a hard-working man for his family and has let them down."

Mr Patton said Hoque, who moved to the UK from Bangladesh in 2007 and has no previous convictions, had told his wife he was at court but not his three children.

He added: "I daresay they will read the papers and this will come as a profound shock to them."

After the case, Detective Constable Joe Birkett said: “He was a licensed taxi driver who had undergone vulnerability training and was in a position of trust. His sole duty should have been getting his customer home safely.

“Instead he abused that position of trust and I welcome the significant custodial sentence handed to this sexual predator by the judge.

“This result would not have been possible if it were not for the bravery of the victim in this case and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for having the courage to come forward."

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/predatory-newcastle-city-centre-taxi-21277220