Thasawar Iqbal 42

Description

A 'dangerous' sex predator who pretended to be a taxi driver hunted for lone women outside Birmingham nightclubs - and only grew bolder after he was first arrested. Thasawar Iqbal is now staring down the barrel of the next 17 years in prison after he kidnapped and attacked two women.

The 41-year-old was arrested and bailed after sexually assaulting a vulnerable female in December 2021. But that did not deter him and his depraved behaviour escalated to a new level when he struck upon another lone victim in July 22, who he would go on to rape multiple times in a pub car park. The attacks were both preplanned and opportunistic, West Midlands Police said.

Today, the force welcomed the fact the 'predatory' sex beast was off the streets. Judge Francis Laird concluded Iqbal was a 'dangerous' offender who posed a risk of causing further harm to the public and handed him an extended five-year licence period on top of his jail term.

Sentencing him at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, May 26, he said: "I am sure, firstly, on both occasions you were driving in the city centre of Birmingham looking for vulnerable women. Secondly, your intent was to pose as a taxi driver in order to trick them into your car. Thirdly, in relation to your kidnap of the first victim your intention was to carry out a serious sexual offence."

Iqbal had 'never previously committed a sex offence' and his own defence barrister Colin McCarraher accepted he did not know what triggered his depraved actions, which he denied at a trial. The seemingly 'normal' married man approached the first victim who was rowing with her boyfriend.

Iqbal drove her away under the ruse he was a private hire driver, and then consumed alcohol and cocaine during the journey. He kissed the woman and suggested they should have sex and film it. But she managed to escape when he stopped to buy more drugs.

While under investigation for that he struck a second time. He persuaded a lone woman walking along the A34 to let him give her a lift, which she accepted after initially refusing. But Iqbal proceeded to drive her to a pub car park where he raped her multiple times.

He only drove her home when she agreed to take his mobile phone number. Birmingham Crown Court heard both women suffered 'terrifying ordeals' and felt guilty for finding themselves in a position to be targeted.

Det Con Soniya Ram, from West Midlands Police 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.”

Iqbal, of Birchdale Road, Erdington, was found guilty of two counts of kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence, two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, two counts of sexual assault and one offence of assault by penetration.