A teenager was raped in a car park by a man pretending to be an Uber driver. Abdul Shahid, 41, has been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of rape by a jury.
Swansea Crown Court heard how he lured the 18-year-old victim into his car by telling her he was an Uber driver. Rather than taking her home, Shahid, from Shetty, then drove through dark roads in Swansea before stopping at a car park and raping the victim. He was quickly reported to police before being arrested and charged.
However, the 41-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was eventually found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and one count of assault by penetration.
Shahid was then sentenced to an extended 18 years behind bars. Police have praised the bravery of the victim, adding that Shahid is “clearly a threat to women”.
South Wales Police are urging victims of sexual attacks to report it to them as soon as possible. A spokesperson said: “We never underestimate how difficult it is for survivors of sexual abuse to speak out and report.
“But we hope cases like this one provide reassurance that victims will be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and will be supported throughout the judicial process. If you have been sexually abused, and you are not yet ready to report to police, please don’t suffer in silence.”
Detective Constable Claire Davies, from South Wales Police, said: “I would like to thank the victim in this case for coming forward and for being courageous throughout the process of this investigation. Because of her, we have been able to convict a man who is clearly a threat to women. I can only hope that this helps her to move on from this in a more positive way and gain some form of closure.
“During the trial, Abdul Shahid did not show any remorse for his actions and even tried to blame the victim for what he did. The victim was simply trying to get home and put her trust in what she thought was an Uber driver.
“If you are the victim of a sexual offence, we urge you to report it to the police as soon as possible. You will be supported, and officers will treat all reports with sensitivity and professionalism.”