Leicester man posed as taxi driver before raping woman

Zaheer Shah, 38, was found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm

A man who posed as a taxi driver to lure a teenager into his car before raping her has been jailed for 15 years.

Zaheer Shah, 38, drove around Leicester city centre for several hours before approaching his victim during the early hours of 4 March 2023.

He then drove her to a secluded area where he raped her.

Shah was found guilty of rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Leicestershire Police said Shah was seen on CCTV driving around the city centre for several hours prior to the offence.

He stopped in Wellington Street where he posed as a taxi driver to persuade the woman, who was in her late teens, to get into his car.

After she was raped, the woman managed to kick out and escape the car.

'Pure bravery'

After reporting the offence to police, her friends were able to track her phone which had been left behind in the car along with items of clothing.

Sharh, of Evington Drive, Leicester, was arrested and taken into police custody.

Det Con Sarah Le Boutillier said: "The strength, courage and pure bravery shown by the victim both initially to seek help in the immediate timeframe following the ordeal, and throughout this investigation is highly commendable and she should be very proud of herself for this."

Shah was found not guilty of a charge of non-fatal strangulation.