Unlicensed taxi driver jailed over sex offences

Edwin Youll used his job as an unlicensed taxi driver to commit his crimes

An unlicensed taxi driver who targeted vulnerable women and children in a string of violent sex offences has been jailed.

Edwin Youll, 63, of Bexley Drive, Normanby, became violent towards his victims if they did not do as he commanded, Cleveland Police said.

The force said he used his job to seek out women, and on occasion used knives in his offending, which dates back to the 1990s.

Youll was found guilty of 26 charges of sexual assault and rape following a trial in July and was sentenced to 32 years in prison at Teesside Crown Court on Monday.

Det Supt Stuart Hodgson, the senior investigating officer on the case, thanked the victims who "gave harrowing accounts of the horrendous sexual abuse".

He said: "Whilst the experiences will stay with them forever, I am pleased that this chapter has now come to a close and that justice has been served, and Youll will now spend a significant time behind bars.

"Violence against women and girls is not acceptable and we will always urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to contact Cleveland Police."