Fake taxi driver jailed over sex assaults in Brighton and Hove

Graham Head, 66, from Pevensey, posed as a taxi driver

A man who posed as a taxi driver and attempted to rape and sexually assault two women has been jailed.

Graham Head, 66, was found guilty of kidnap, attempted rape and assault by penetration at a previous hearing at Hove Crown Court.

Sussex Police said they had found condoms, Viagra tablets and a balaclava in his vehicle when he was arrested.

At Lewes Crown Court, judge Jeremy Gold KC told Head he would serve 18 years in prison and five years on licence.

The judge said: "The evidence clearly disclosed you were in the habit of driving around in the early hours of the morning looking for intoxicated vulnerable young women posing as a Good Samaritan.

"In fact you were a sexual predator looking for women you could sexually assault."

The attacker had been described as a short man aged 40-50 wearing a face mask

On 19 August 2022, Head dragged a teenage woman into bushes in Hove Park after she had received a lift from him, his trial was told.

He attempted to rape her, but fled the scene when her mobile phone rang.

Footage showed her approaching a silver Mercedes estate, which was then tracked through city centre CCTV and doorbell images driving near Hove Park.

Then, on 18 November, a woman in her 20s woke up in a vehicle to find a man sexually assaulting her, after taking what she thought was a taxi from Brighton to Hove.

She escaped, called police and was able to remember three digits of the number plate.

Head's car was tracked through CCTV

Police located the car and after a short pursuit, stopped it in Preston Circus.

Head, of Coast Road, Pevensey, was then arrested on suspicion of kidnap, attempted rape and failing to stop a vehicle when asked to do so.

Following his arrest, Head's internet search history was found to include phrases including "if a mobile phone is switched off can it still be traced" and multiple searches about nightclub opening times in Brighton, East Sussex and Surrey, as well as information on Brighton student nights.

Other victims?

In a statement to the court, one of Head's victims said: "I really struggle to be outside by myself at night.

"I start to panic at every insignificant sound as I assume that it must be someone who is coming to hurt and violate me."

Det Con Elliott Landler said the streets were safer as a result of Head's jailing.

He said: "We believe Head may have further victims who have not yet come forward. If you believe you may have been a victim, or have any information which could help, please contact police.

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