Just one of the 140 rapes that happen every year in licensed and unlicensed minicab's that openly tout, every night, in central London
AN illegal mini-cab driver who raped a woman in the back of his car has been found guilty seven years after the attack.
Sex beast Astor Newton Murray picked up a 22-year-old woman in Shoreditch in November 2003, pestering her to accept a ride in his mini cab.
The 49-year-old, of Chichester Road, Edmonton, drove her to an deserted industrial estate and began taking off his trousers and unbuttoning his shirt.
When the woman, who had been out with friends that night, tried to get out of the car, she found the doors were locked and she could not escape.
Murray then raped and indecently assaulted the woman on the back seat of his minicab.
Murray then tried to drive the woman to her home in south London after the attack, but she fled the car when it pulled up at a set of traffic lights.
Police forensics were taken but Murray was not on the DNA database and could not be traced in connection with the rape.
However, he was arrested last year for touted unlicensed mini-cab services and for assault, and his DNA was linked to the 2003 attack.
Murray denied rape and indecent assault but was convicted at the Old Bailey yesterday and will be sentenced on September 24.
Detective Constable Andy Beete, who led the investigation after Murray's arrest, said: “After all this time Murray thought he had got away with this awful crime, but after he posed as a taxi driver and got caught, officers matched his DNA to forensic evidence taken from the scene.
“He now faces a jail sentence after he was brought to justice.”
The sad reality of this case is Murry has been touting in the west end, night after night for seven years. While working licensed black cab drivers are victimised, these scum-bags are used by Westminster and other councils including the City of London to clear the streets of night revellers.
Had the councils, Met Police and TfL cab enforcement done the job they are paid to do, this man would have been caught much sooner.
They should hang their heads in shame.
Yep, Roaming the streets for years on end just like some many others!
ReplyDelete1. Did he hold a PHV Licence?
2. Was he convicted for touting after being arrested?
3. The Detective still calling Minicabs Taxis shows the standard of awareness.
Meanwhile in the Bayswater & Chelsea Bridge Roads:
'Bill & Badge Driver, Ooh and there's a missing Ashtray'.
Is it more resources the Met and TfL need or better deployment of what they have?
I rest my case!
The authorities have turned a blind eye to this problem, just so they can get the streets cleared at night. Under the safer travel at night scheme, minicabs have been allowed to form unlawful ranks and tout all over the west end. Westminster Council then target licensed taxis with CCTV. A black cab dropping or picking up a passenger who takes more than two minutes if spotted gets a PCN through the post and the tout he us next to who probably has been parked up for much longer is left in peace. Its a scandal
ReplyDeleteIf only we could get a major newspaper to ask these questions
ReplyDeleteI have said this before,but will repeat it,The only way to put a stop to this is to issue a summons against the commisioner of police,for not doing his job,We have the evidence,and now with the UTG, they have the resources,okay i admit we would probaly lose,but think of the media coverage and the embarrasment it would cause,esp if we said at the start any compensation would go to the police widows and orphans fund,As far as costs go well the UTG,seem willing to throw our money away on silly things so how about putting it to something we want,is that to much to ask
ReplyDeleteAs sad as this case is maybe the victim of all this mishap is the families and friends who have to endure the entire shame and burden that has been left behind, pointing fingers at every dept does not resolve anything. The most we can do has an society is to safeguard our people that no other family or friends have to face such things again in the future.
ReplyDeletetotally right, very shameful on both sides, ver sad
ReplyDelete