Horror as teenager raped in UK city car park by fake Uber driver | UK | News
A teenager was raped in a parking lot by a man pretending to be an Uber driver. Found guilty of rape by a jury, 41-year-old Abdul Shahid was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Swansea Crown Court heard how the man lured the 18-year-old victim into his car, saying he was an Uber driver. Instead of asking Shetty to take her home, Shahid drove through dark roads in Swansea, stopped in a car park and raped the victim. He was immediately reported to the police before being arrested and charged.
However, the 41-year-old man did not accept all the charges. He was eventually found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.
Shahid was later sentenced to a longer prison sentence of 18 years. Police praised the victim’s bravery and added that Shahid was “clearly a threat to women.”
South Wales Police is appealing to victims of sexual assault to report it as soon as possible. A spokesman said: “We never underestimate how difficult it is for victims of sexual abuse to speak openly and report.
“But we hope that cases like this will provide reassurance to victims that they will be heard, treated with dignity and respect, and supported throughout the justice process. If you have been sexually harassed and are not yet ready to report it to the police, please do not suffer in silence.”
Detective Constable Claire Davies, of South Wales Police, said: “I would like to thank the victim in this case for coming forward and being brave throughout this investigation process. Thanks to him, we have managed to convict a man who was clearly a threat to women. I hope this will help him move on from this in a more positive way and provide some closure.
“During the trial, Abdul Shahid did not show any remorse for his actions and even tried to blame the victim for his actions. The victim was just trying to get home and trust who he thought was an Uber driver.
“If you are the victim of a sexual crime, we ask that you report this to the police as soon as possible. You will be given support and officers will deal with all reports sensitively and professionally.”
