Taxi driver found guilty of sexual assault after picking victim up at Newcastle cab rank

A taxi driver who groomed a customer on her journey home has now been placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Amer Salamat picked up the victim from a taxi rank in Newcastle town centre in the early hours of the morning in September last year.

As he drove her back to County Durham, 55-year-old Salamat lectured the woman about religion, tried to kiss her, touched her leg, told her he liked her, and gave her his phone number.

She immediately disclosed what had happened to her family who reported it to police, and an investigation was launched.

Officers quickly identified the driver as Salamat, and he was swiftly arrested and later charged with sexual assault.

He denied the offence but was found guilty following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court where he was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

Salamat was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for seven years and banned from working as a taxi driver for life.

Detective Constable Christopher Bentham, from Durham Constabulary’s Digital Investigations Unit, said: “The victim in this case has shown enormous bravery throughout the investigation - from coming forward and speaking out straight away to giving evidence in court and facing Salamat.

“Salamat completely abused his position of trust as a taxi driver by trying to groom a vulnerable woman who was alone in his car.

“I hope that the conclusion of the trial will allow the victim to close this chapter of her life and move on.”