Glasgow High Court jails taxi driver for seven years after turning off GPS and raping vulnerable passenger
- Perry Richardson
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
A licensed taxi driver has been sentenced to seven years in prison after raping and sexually assaulting a vulnerable passenger he had collected during a late-night fare, in a case that has prompted renewed attention on safeguarding standards within the industry.
Thomas Tosh, 39, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of attacking a 23-year-old woman who had been intoxicated and incapable of consenting. The court heard the incident followed a journey in the early hours of 30 September 2023, after the victim and her friends were picked up from a pub in Clydebank.
Prosecutors outlined how Tosh completed the initial fare after dropping off the other passengers, before logging out of the vehicle’s GPS tracking system. He then diverted from the agreed route and drove the victim to his home in Drumchapel, where the rape took place.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Tosh remained offline from the tracking system for approximately two hours. He later logged back in while travelling away from the direction of the victim’s home, after eventually dropping her off.
Conviction raises renewed scrutiny on passenger safety, driver monitoring and licensing safeguards across the private hire sector
The case against Tosh was supported by multiple strands of evidence, including GPS data, DNA findings, text messages and witness testimony. He was ultimately identified after a friend of the victim recognised him via a photograph on social media.
On 7 April 2026, Tosh was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. The court also ordered that he be placed indefinitely on the sex offenders register.
A 10-year non-harassment order was imposed, prohibiting any form of contact or attempted contact with the victim.
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said: “This was a despicable betrayal of trust by a man who was responsible for getting a woman home safely after a night out.
“Thomas Tosh deliberately concealed his location as he drove the victim to his home, where he raped her while it was clear she was unable to consent.
“I want to recognise the courage shown by this young woman throughout the prosecution process. Her strength has helped bring a predatory offender to justice.
“Scotland’s prosecutors will continue to use every tool available to pursue those who abuse women and girls, and to protect the public from harm.”
