Cab driver jailed twelve years for rape after horrific three-hour detour
- Perry Richardson
- May 6
- 3 min read
A cab driver has been jailed for 12 years after raping a passenger during a journey that should have taken 20 minutes but lasted more than three hours, according to Greater Manchester Police.
Muhammad Nasir, born 18 December 1985, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday 5 May after being convicted of rape committed in July 2021. The court also imposed an additional four years on licence following his custodial term.
The conviction stems from an incident in which the survivor, after leaving a nightclub on Deansgate, entered a ‘taxi’ she had not pre-booked. During the journey along the A6 towards Longsight, Nasir diverted into a secluded cul-de-sac where he sexually assaulted and raped her.
After the attack, Nasir drove the victim to a cash machine and took approximately £70 before dropping her at her home. Investigators later established that the journey, which would typically take around 20 minutes, lasted approximately three and a half hours.
Court imposes lifetime ban from taxi work following conviction linked to unbooked journey in Manchester
The offence was reported via LiveChat on 24 August 2021, around a month after it occurred. Police subsequently secured CCTV footage showing the survivor entering the vehicle outside the nightclub. The vehicle registration was traced to Nasir, who was arrested on 15 September 2021 by Tameside officers.
In addition to his prison sentence, Nasir has been made subject to a restraining order, placed on the sex offenders register for life, and banned indefinitely from working as a taxi or private hire driver. The court order removes any future eligibility for licensing within the sector.
Greater Manchester Police credited the survivor’s decision to come forward as central to securing the conviction, noting that evidence gathering, including CCTV and journey analysis, played a key role in building the case.
In court the survivor said: “I am here today as a survivor of a rape that occurred when I was 20 years old. I want the court to understand the profound impact this crime has had on my life and the work I have had to do to rebuild it.
“The offender was a taxi driver - someone I should have been able to trust to keep me safe. Instead, he abused me. That betrayal has stayed with me and has shaped much of the fear and instability I have experienced since.
“Within the first year after reporting this offence, I was diagnosed with post‑traumatic stress disorder.
“The trauma significantly affected my education; I missed a large number of university lectures, required extensions, and struggled daily to function. At times, I was unable to leave my room or remain at university.
“Beyond my studies, the impact left me anxious, withdrawn, fearful in everyday life, I struggled to feel safe leaving my home and had to make changes to my life to manage that fear.
“I felt as though I had lost my sense of self.
“Despite this, I have worked hard to rebuild my life by seeking support, committing to recovery and gradually regaining control. I now speak about my experience to raise awareness and support others and I have raised money for The Survivor Trust by completing a marathon - a charity I relied on heavily throughout the process.
“I know this experience will always be part of my life, but it no longer defines me.
“I am here today because I was believed by my family, friends and officers and charities who supported me throughout.”
Detective Constable James Adams from the Serious Crime Unit said: “This was a truly heinous crime, and I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary strength and bravery shown by the survivor throughout this process.
“Coming forward, remaining engaged for more than four years and then choosing to raise awareness for others takes immense courage. Her determination to ensure that what happened to her does not define her is remarkable.
“Rape is one of the most serious and devastating crimes a person can experience. The sentence handed down today reflects the seriousness of Nasir’s actions and the lasting harm they caused.
“Greater Manchester Police will not tolerate sexual violence in any form, and we will always work to hold offenders to account.
“I would urge anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault, no matter how long ago, to come forward. You will be listened to, believed and supported.”
