Stoke on Trent private hire driver who sexually assaulted passenger in front of her son jailed

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A Stoke-on-Trent private hire driver has been jailed for sexually assaulting a female passenger.

Najibullah Hakani, aged 27, of Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, was found guilty of assaulting the woman after stopping off during a journey between Crewe and Audley in 2018.

He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on Tuesday 9 March, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after being convicted of sexual assault last month.

The court heard that Hakani’s 26-year-old passenger had booked a minicab to take her from her home address in Crewe to a friend’s house in Audley on 16 April 2018.

She was travelling with her young son. The driver started to make lewd comments and asked personal questions, before pulling over just off the A500 near to fields and asking her to get in the front of the cab.

She said she was frightened and did as she was told. Hakani put his hand inside her top and then grabbed her hand and placed it on his groin.

She went into her friend’s house and they saw she was shaking and upset. She then reported the incident to police.

A DNA sample from clothing provided a link to Hakani.

Detective Inspector Zoe Kelsall, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We’re thankful the victim had the courage to come forward and tell us what happened.

“This was a frightening experience for her as she was vulnerable and worried about her own safety and that of her child.”