Assad Khan 56

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A Bradford taxi driver who drove an intoxicated woman home after a night out and raped her while she was almost unconscious on a sofa has been jailed for nine years.

Assad Khan, who had worked as a taxi driver for more than 20 years, used his victim’s bank card to steal £250 from her account instead of withdrawing the £25 for the fare when they stopped at a cashpoint in the early hours.

The judge at Bradford Crown Court said today that after taking the woman to her home Khan ‘barged’ his way in uninvited and while she was almost unconscious, he raped her.

After the attack last year, Khan used the woman’s key to lock the front door and then posted it back through the letterbox.

When she woke up, she felt disgusted but initially she was too embarrassed to tell anyone.

A few days later, Khan, 55, of John Street, Clayton, Bradford, turned up on her doorstep and tried to defend his actions, saying she could get him into trouble.

Recorder Ben Nolan KC said he had no doubt that Khan was trying to find out if she could remember what had happened and try to persuade her not to take any action citing his need to keep his job.

The woman reported the attack to the police and when Khan was arrested, he claimed she had consented.

A week before he was due to stand trial, Khan, who is married with four children, pleaded guilty to rape and theft.

In her victim impact statement, the woman labelled Khan ‘an utterly selfish and repugnant human being.’ His barrister, Michael Collins, said he had mental health difficulties that related to a tragic house fire when he was aged ten.

In a letter to the judge, Khan had expressed genuine remorse.

“He looks back with shame and misunderstanding at his own conduct,” Mr Collins said.

“He can’t help as to why he committed the offence.”

Recorder Nolan said that one consultant psychiatrist believed that Khan was feigning symptoms and exaggerating his behaviour.

He had shown ‘criminal guile’ in carrying out the offence and he had abused his position of trust as a taxi driver.

Khan will have to register as a sex offender with the police for the rest of his life and he will also have to comply with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Recorder Nolan also imposed a lifelong restraining order which bans Khan from having any contact with the complainant.