Taxi driver indecently assaulted passenger

Jabrane Moutiq was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse to six months in prison

A taxi driver who locked a passenger in his car before indecently assaulting her has been jailed for six months.

Jabrane Moutiq, 40, attacked the woman in his taxi after picking her up in January 2023.

Douglas Courthouse heard the 40-year-old had touched her inappropriately and forced her to kiss him.

Sending him to prison, High Bailiff James Brooks said he had abused his "trust as a taxi driver".

Moutiq was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years.

The court heard Moutiq, of Mulvern Road in Douglas, had been a taxi driver on the island for more than eight years.

On 15 January he had picked the victim up late at night and was driving her home but continued to drive on when she asked him to stop and let her out.

He then pulled into a car park, locked the doors and indecently assaulted her, the court was told.

Moutiq was arrested by police the following day and denied the offences.

The 40-year-old was found guilty after a trial at Douglas Courthouse late last year.

'Completely broken'

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman said the incident had left her "completely broken".

The court heard she had since been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and struggled with flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks.

The trial was "especially difficult" for her and had left her feeling "humiliated and embarrassed", the court heard.

Prosecutors said the victim was a lone, single female and his actions were a clear "abuse of trust".

Mr Brooks said while there was no indication of remorse by Moutiq, the voluntary surrendering of his licence had demonstrated "some acceptance" of what he had done.

While his defence advocate had argued for a suspended sentence with supervision, Mr Brooks said he would not be doing his "public duty" if he did not sentence the 40-year-old to immediate custody.

He said Moutiq's actions had amounted to a "gross breach" of the trust placed in him as a taxi driver, and the victim had suffered "significant psychological harm" as a result of the "terrifying" incident.