“CALCULATING SEXUAL PREDATORS”: Taxi driver and other man jailed for rape of vulnerable woman at Bristol guest house
- Perry Richardson
- 49 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Two men described in court as calculating sexual predators have been jailed after being convicted of raping a vulnerable woman at a guest house in Bristol six years ago.
Taxi driver Riaz Muhammed, 51, was sentenced to nine years in prison, while Muhammed Zahid, 46, received an eight-year sentence. Both were sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 17 December following an eight-day trial.
The men were unanimously found guilty of the rape of a woman aged over 16. The offences related to a single victim and took place at a Bristol guest house in 2019.
The court heard that Muhammed, who was working as a taxi driver at the time, collected the woman and drove her around the city before paying for her to stay overnight at the guest house. Prosecutors said the location was known to him and was deliberately chosen.
Taxi driver and accomplice sentenced after planned attack on unconscious victim in 2019
After taking the victim to the premises, Muhammed arranged for Zahid to attend. While the woman was unconscious, the two men carried out what the court was told was a planned and sustained sexual assault.
The judge said the offending involved a high level of premeditation and exploitation of a vulnerable victim. Both men were told they would serve two thirds of their custodial sentences before being released on licence.
Police said officers have remained in contact with the victim since the initial report was made and kept her informed throughout the investigation and court process. Support services were offered to her at all stages.
In a joint statement, the two investigating officers DC Laurence Castle and DC Saoirse Moore said: “Muhammed and Zahid are calculating sexual predators who preyed on a vulnerable victim, hoping she would not have the strength to come forward.
“However, despite the trauma they have caused, they are now facing a considerable amount of time in prison after a jury has found them guilty. I would like to commend the jury for their remarkable determination to understand and process the significant facts of this case and recognising the vital importance of consent.
“The victim has shown truly extraordinary resilience despite the amount of trauma she was forced to endure at the hands of the men who the victim believed were taking her to a place of safety. We admire her for coming forwards and remaining hopeful throughout the arduous process.
“We hope this conviction sends out an important message that any acts of violence towards women and girls will never be tolerated and every victim deserves to be heard and supported.”
