Locations
Stockport Road, Ashton-under-lyne, Tameside, OL7
Description
Thanks to the bravery of a survivor, a man who raped her has been jailed.
Muhammad Nasir, 18/12/1985, Stockport Road, Ashton Under Lyne, has today (Tuesday 5 May) been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with an additional four years' license at Manchester Crown Court after being convicted of rape, committed in July 2021.
The survivor and her mother courageously reported the offence via LiveChat on Tuesday 24 August 2021.
The court heard that on Saturday 24 July 2021, the survivor had been out with friends at a nightclub on Deansgate. She left alone and phoned her mother to let her know she was on her way home.
Outside the nightclub, she entered a taxi she had not prebooked, driven by Nasir.
While travelling along the A6 towards Longsight, Nasir diverted into a quiet, treelined culdesac off the A6, where he stopped the vehicle. He then sexually assaulted and raped the survivor.
Following the attack, Nasir drove the survivor to a cash machine for her to withdraw money to pay him. He took approximately £70 from her before dropping her at her home.
Detectives who investigated the taxi location at that time found that the journey that should have taken 20 minutes in fact took three and a half hours.
The survivor built up the courage to report the rape a month after the incident took place.
Detectives were able to retrieve CCTV footage from the nightclub which evidenced the survivor getting in a taxi.
The registration of the taxi was linked to Muhammad Nasir who was subsequently arrested on 15 September 2021 at an address on Ashton Road by Tameside response officers.
Nasir has also been handed a restraining order, a court order preventing him from ever becoming a taxi driver again and was told he would remain on the sex offender register for life.
In court today the survivor said:
“I am here today as a survivor of a rape that occurred when I was 20 years old. I want the court to understand the profound impact this crime has had on my life and the work I have had to do to rebuild it.
“The offender was a taxi driver - someone I should have been able to trust to keep me safe. Instead, he abused me. That betrayal has stayed with me and has shaped much of the fear and instability I have experienced since.
“Within the first year after reporting this offence, I was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder.
“The trauma significantly affected my education; I missed a large number of university lectures, required extensions, and struggled daily to function. At times, I was unable to leave my room or remain at university.
“Beyond my studies, the impact left me anxious, withdrawn, fearful in everyday life, I struggled to feel safe leaving my home and had to make changes to my life to manage that fear.
“I felt as though I had lost my sense of self.
“Despite this, I have worked hard to rebuild my life by seeking support, committing to recovery and gradually regaining control. I now speak about my experience to raise awareness and support others and I have raised money for The Survivor Trust by completing a marathon - a charity I relied on heavily throughout the process.
“I know this experience will always be part of my life, but it no longer defines me.
“I am here today because I was believed by my family, friends and officers and charities who supported me throughout.”
Detective Constable James Adams from the Serious Crime Unit said:
“This was a truly heinous crime, and I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary strength and bravery shown by the survivor throughout this process.
“Coming forward, remaining engaged for more than four years and then choosing to raise awareness for others takes immense courage. Her determination to ensure that what happened to her does not define her is remarkable.
“Rape is one of the most serious and devastating crimes a person can experience. The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of Nasir’s actions and the lasting harm they caused.
“Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate sexual violence in any form, and we will always work to hold offenders to account.
“I would urge anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault, no matter how long ago, to come forward. You will be listened to, believed and supported.”