Rapist taxi driver jailed for attacks on passenger

Percival pleaded guilty to 16 different charges

A taxi driver who repeatedly raped and assaulted a vulnerable passenger over multiple years has received a 12 and a half-year prison sentence.

Lance Melville Percival, of Pollards Oak Road in Oxted, Surrey, admitted multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration and sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice.

The 64-year-old's crimes were uncovered when an SD card was found in his wallet containing videos "showing him committing the offences", Surrey Police said.

Percival was jailed and given a sexual harm prevention order at Guildford Crown Court on Monday.

Police said 16 videos were found showing Percival subjecting his victim to various levels of abuse.

The survivor could be heard telling him to stop in some of the videos, which spanned 13 days between 2021 and 2024, according to officers.

The woman never reported the attacks and "had little understanding or comprehension" of what happened to her, the force said.

Det Con Marc Taylor, who investigated the case, said Percival was "a sexual predator who abused his position" and "took advantage of the victim's vulnerability".

He said the level and nature of the abuse was "hugely shocking" and thanked all of his colleagues that assisted in the investigation.

He added: "It is clear that Percival knew what he was doing and I am glad his depraved actions finally came to light."

Surrey Police said Percival had been a self-employed taxi driver licensed by Tandridge District Council for 10 years, but had his Hackney Carriage license revoked after officers notified the local authority of the allegations.

The council said "no issues were raised" previously about Percival's behaviour and "as soon as we were made aware of this case we revoked his licence".