Taxi driver who sexually assaulted woman jailed

Paul Bryan appeared at Londonderry Crown Court on Monday

A taxi driver who sexually assaulted an 18-year-old passenger has been jailed.

Paul Bryan, 63, of Newtowncunningham in County Donegal, admitted two counts of sexually assaulting the woman after he collected her in Letterkenny following a night out with friends in October 2017.

A judge at Londonderry Crown Court told the 18-year-old she had been totally vindicated by the defendant’s guilty plea.

Bryan has been sentenced to four years, half of which is to be served in custody before being released on licence.

Judge Neil Rafferty told the court that on 22 October 2017 the young woman had gone to Letterkenny with friends and had consumed alcohol.

She had become separated from her friends and decided to get a taxi to take her back to Derry.

She flagged a taxi down outside a nightclub, the court was told, and there were witnesses who saw her entering the vehicle.

On the journey back to Derry, Bryan sexually assaulted the woman and behaved “inappropriately”, the court heard.

'Significant aggravating factors'

When first interviewed by police, Bryan said there had been sexual activity but claimed it was consensual but later admitted the offences.

Judge Rafferty said there were “significant aggravating factors'” in the case.

The judge said Bryan was a taxi driver and there was a breach of trust in that he had taken advantage of a young woman who was “extremely vulnerable due to her age and alcohol”.

He said the incident had had “a significant effect” on the young woman's life and she had been entitled to think she was safe in a taxi.

He described the case as one of “high harm and high culpability”.

The judge also apologised for the delay in the case and told the woman he understood how that had "put your life on hold".

He told the young woman that this was "a horrible incident that did not define her".

Bryan was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of 10 years.

A 10-year sexual offences prevention order was also imposed.

In a statement, PSNI Det Con Buchanan said Bryan "took advantage of a vulnerable young woman when she was trying to get home safely in his taxi" and commended her for her bravery in reporting the assault.

“This was a complex investigation and we would like to thank our colleagues at An Garda Síochána for their efforts and support with this case," he said.

"We urge anyone who has ever been the victim of sexual abuse to come forward and report it, regardless of where, or when it happened."