Fake taxi driver jailed for 23 years after Brighton sex attacks retrial
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 30, 2025
- 4 min read
A man posing as a taxi driver has been jailed for a second time after being found guilty of serious sexual offences against two women in Brighton and Hove.
Graham Head, 68, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court to 18 years in custody, with a further five years on extended licence, bringing his total sentence to 23 years.
Head was originally jailed in July 2023, but his conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal following concerns raised about the judge in his first trial. At a retrial earlier this summer, a jury once again found him guilty of kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration.
Passing sentence, HHJ Christine Laing described Head as a “sexual predator preying on vulnerable women” and said he posed a “significant risk of serious harm”. The judge praised the bravery of the victims, including a posthumous commendation for one who memorised Head’s number plate after being attacked, which led to his swift arrest.
The court also commended Detective Constable Elliott Lander, Detective Sergeant Matthew Digweed and Police Sergeant Daniel Head, along with Sexual Offence Investigation Team officers Sarah Sebastian and Hannah Brocklehurst for their work on the case.
The first attack took place on 19 August 2022, when a teenager was offered a lift by Head in Brighton. She was later dragged into bushes at Hove Park where he attempted to rape her, but he fled when her phone rang. CCTV showed her earlier approaching a silver Mercedes estate, which was later linked to Head.
Three months later, on 18 November 2022, another woman reported waking up in a vehicle she believed was a taxi to find herself being sexually assaulted. She had entered what she thought was a taxi outside a Brighton venue. The victim managed to escape and gave police part of the car’s registration number.
Officers quickly located the silver Mercedes at Preston Circus after a short pursuit. Inside, they found gloves, condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava. Head’s phone had been placed on flight mode and contained internet searches about avoiding detection, as well as searches around nightclub opening times and student events.
Head, described in court as short in stature and wearing a face mask during the attacks, was arrested the same night.
One of Head’s victims, a woman in her 20s, is now sadly deceased. Her Mum read a personal statement to the court, extracts of which are included below: “I stand here and address you today, Graham Head, as the mother of one of your two young victims. She cannot be there to help the court understand the utterly devastating impact of your crimes against her in the early hours of 18 November, 2022.
“That is because my only daughter tragically died on 15 December, 2024, just a few days after the Crown Prosecution Service informed her that your appeal had been successful with all your convictions against her quashed.
“My fiercely intelligent daughter immediately understood that, to avoid your release from a 23-year prison sentence, she would have to face the gruelling ordeal of a second Crown Court hearing of the case against you.”
The statement continues: “[My daughter’s] sense of safety and her confidence in the goodness of the world was completely and permanently shattered the night that you so malevolently tricked her into the back seat of your car. You robbed my gorgeous girl of the bright and promising future that she had been building.
“After that night, [my daughter] was diagnosed with complex PTSD and she developed agoraphobia so severe that she struggled to leave the house, even with the support of her trusted friends. She couldn’t work. She couldn’t do any of her everyday things without fear. The independence, joy and freedom in life that all women are entitled at her age to enjoy had all been stripped away by you.”
Detective Constable Elliott Lander from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team said: “No prison sentence can make up for the devastation caused by Graham Head’s appalling crimes.
“His refusal to take any responsibility has only inflicted further trauma on his victims. I cannot thank the victims and their families enough for the strength they have shown under extremely challenging circumstances.
“Head presents a clear danger to women and the streets of Sussex are safer now he will remain behind bars.
“Anyone who has any information or concerns linked to this investigation is asked to contact police online or via 101, quoting Operation Cooper.”
Rebecca Millardship from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Graham Head is a dangerous sexual predator, who poses a real danger to young women.
“He planned his attacks carefully, pretending to be an Uber driver, using latex gloves to minimise the risk of leaving traces of his DNA and, while he was searching for victims, he made sure his phones were on flight mode, so they could not be tracked.
“After a re-trial was ordered, the CPS remained steadfast in our commitment to deliver justice for the victims.
“Following the tragic death of one of the victims in this case, we were still able to ensure her voice was heard during the re-trial, with her interview given to the police played to the jury and details of the answers she gave to questions from the defence during the original trial also included in our case.
“Today’s sentence ensures that Head will not be able to hurt any other young women. We hope that this sentence brings some small comfort to everyone involved in the case.”
