Taxi driver on trial accused of 2006 rape of student

Mahbubur Rahman has denied one count of rape

A former taxi driver has gone on trial accused of raping a student following a night out in Loughborough 19 years ago.

The student reported the rape in October 2006 but the taxi driver was not identified at the time, and the investigation was closed in 2009.

However, Mahbubur Rahman, of Jane Street in Chadderton, Oldham, was charged in 2023 after he was arrested for an unrelated crime, and his DNA matched that taken from the student.

Mr Rahman denies one count of rape, and his defence barrister has alleged the student consented to sex.

'Absolutely hysterical'

The woman told jurors at Leicester Crown Court she has since suffered from flashbacks about what happened.

Giving evidence, she described the driver raping her in the back of his taxi.

"I just remember being helpless. I had no strength and couldn't move my arms," she said.

A former housemate of the student also gave evidence and described being woken up in the early hours of 7 October 2006, as the student was banging to be let in.

"She was absolutely hysterical; I've never seen her or anyone in that state," said the housemate.

"I opened the door when I realised it was her. She was crying constantly. Even when she was trying to speak she couldn't get the words out, she was crying so hard."

The housemate described taking her into the house and seeing her curled up on the floor.

"It was almost like a foetal position, curled up on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and absolutely crying her eyes out," said the housemate.

The housemate said she called police after being told what had happened.

"She said, 'it's not meant to be me, I'm the sensible one', which I would say is pretty accurate," said the housemate.

"She's a sensible person."

Prosecution barrister Timothy Sapwell KC asked if the student was able to give a description of the man who raped her.

The housemate said: "Just that he was an Asian male taxi driver."

'Shocking' suggestion

Mr Rahman is now 50 but would have been 31 at the time.

His defence barrister, Joey Kwong KC, told jurors that the student consented to sex in exchange for the taxi fare and £100.

In his cross-examination of the woman, he suggested to her: "This was agreed and so Mr Rahman got into the back seat, and you and Mr Rahman in fact also had sex outside."

The woman, who was crying as she gave evidence, replied: "No, that's not true."

When her evidence was re-examined, Mr Sapwell asked what her reaction to this suggestion was, and she said it was "shocking".

The trial at Leicester Crown Court continues.