'Abhorrent' rapist who posed as taxi driver jailed

Nazim Asmal was jailed for 17 years at Preston Crown Court

An "abhorrent" man who posed as a taxi driver so he could rape vulnerable women he picked up as they made their way home from nights out has been jailed.

Nazim Asmal lured his victims into his car before driving to remote locations and assaulting them.

The 35-year-old, of no fixed address but formerly Balaclava Street, Blackburn, had previously admitted four counts of rape and sexual assault.

At Preston Crown Court he was jailed for 17 years.

'Appalling offending'

Lancashire Police said the first rape happened on 3 October 2021 after the victim was picked up by Asmal in Preston city centre.

He drove for about 10 minutes, raped her in the car and then dropped her off back in the city centre.

She flagged a member of the public down for help.

The second rape happened on 4 March when the victim got into Asmal's fake taxi after a night out in Darwen.

He drove her to a secluded area on the outskirts of the town where he assaulted her.

Asmal later called her twice in April and she recognised his voice as the man who had raped her but did not know his identity.

She ended the call after he asked her if she "wanted to do something", police said.

Asmal raped his third victim, who he picked up in Darwen town centre, on the same evening he made that phone call.

'Life shattered'

Driving her towards Bolton, in the opposite direction of her home, Asmal said: "You don't want to pay for this taxi, do you?"

He stopped in a secluded area and raped her. He then dropped her off at her home.

Detectives identified Asmal after his black Toyota Yaris was picked up on CCTV cameras.

In a statement to the court the first victim said her life was "shattered, and it has been a constant struggle that I don't think I will ever fully recover from".

The second victim said: "When I go out with my friends I usually drive and don't drink. I don't like getting in taxis alone anymore. My lifestyle has had to change which changes the dynamic of my relationships."

And the third victim said she felt "lost and out of control" and is "scared to be on my own".

Det Sgt Alex Rawsthorn said: "Although today's headlines will quite rightly focus on Asmal's abhorrent defending, my thoughts are very much with the victims who have been profoundly impacted by his appalling offending."