Uber driver found guilty of back seat passenger rape

The Uber driver who grabbed his passenger from behind and lifted her back to his car to assault has been convicted of rape.  Muhammad Khurram Durrani, 38 of Oakdale Road, Lambeth was charged with one count of rape. Following a not guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in September, he was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 6 April. He is remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Thursday, 10 May.

The court heard that on 23 July 2016, a 27-year-old woman booked a private hire vehicle to take her home following an evening out. 

When she was dropped at her Wandsworth home, and was approaching her front door, the driver approached her from behind, picked her up and took her to rear of his car before raping her.

Detective Constable Peter Monaghan, from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: “This woman booked the cab in good faith to safely take her home. Durrani, realising the vulnerability of his victim, abused her trust and raped her. “This assault has had a significant impact upon her, and her life, and I would like to thank her for having the courage to come forward and give evidence in court.” Detectives would like to hear from anyone who believes that they may have been assaulted by Durrani. They are asked to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command team on 101.