Plymouth taxi driver avoids jail after being convicted of harassment
- Published
Dale Purchase, 29, was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 24 weeks
A former Plymouth taxi driver has avoided jail after he attempted to incite a teenager into a sexual act when she was a passenger in his taxi.
Dale Purchase, 29, appeared before Plymouth Magistrates' Court on Monday after he was found guilty of harassment on 3 November.
He was given an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and a 10 year sexual harm prevention order.
He received a restraining order which bans him from contacting the victim.
Sgt Tom Ottley said Devon and Cornwall Police "take the fear of violence against women and girls very seriously".
"Despite this case not being a typical incident of harassment, the importance of women and girls feeling safe in our society cannot, and should not, be understated," he added.
"The Sexual Harm Protection Order comes with a number of stringent prohibitions, which are aimed to prevent further offending and protect vulnerable people from harm."
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