Taranjit Singh, a taxi driver has evaded incarceration for sexually assaulting a passenger who dozed off in his vehicle in Gloucestershire.
Taranjit Singh, referred to as Tony, abducted a woman and, rather than transporting her home, took her to an industrial park where he sexually assaulted her, according to court testimony.
The woman, in her twenties, fell asleep in the van and awoke to discover Singh perpetrating a sexual attack against her.
She implored Singh to desist and attempted to extricate his arm, yet he persisted in sexually assaulting her, asserting that she was deriving pleasure from it.
Taranjit Singh, 49, of Estcourt Close, Gloucester, was convicted of three charges of sexual assault after a trial at Gloucester Crown Court on July 30.
He returned to the same court on October 18 and was sentenced to 24 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Taranjit Singh has also now been banned from being a taxi driver for 10 years.
The court heard how the victim had ordered cars through the company Taranjit Singh worked for on a number of occasions and he had been her taxi driver.
During a previous cab ride the victim had taken with him, Taranjit Singh had given her his personal mobile number.
In the early hours one morning in November 2021, the victim sent Taranjit Singh a message and asked him to pick her up from Gloucester and take her to the Tewkesbury area.
Despite being off duty and at home, Singh agreed to take the fare, which was a breach of his licence conditions.
The court was shown videos that the victim had secretly recorded on her phone when she had previously been a passenger in Singh’s taxi.
In one of the videos Taranjit Singh could be heard asking the victim if he could touch her and engage in sexual activity with her, and she responded by saying no.
Taranjit Singh, of Gloucester, denied sexually assaulting the woman and claimed he may have accidentally touched her breast as he was putting her seatbelt on for her.
He also said the victim had taken his hand and put it inside her trousers.
“I felt heard, seen and believed” says victim
Following the sentencing, the victim said in a statement: “While this incident only lasted a short time that night, it has had a major long-term effect on me mentally.
“I would urge anyone who has been through similar to contact the police.
“I felt heard, seen and believed, and I had great support throughout the process.
“I’m so glad I reported to hopefully help stop the same happening to others.”
Taranjit Singh was also added to the Sex Offenders’ Register for the next ten years and given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which prohibits him from working or acting as a taxi driver or other paid driver of people in any vehicle for the next ten years
The judge also ordered Singh to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and undertake a rehabilitation programme for up to 30 days, and to pay £4,380 in prosecution fees.
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Annabel Brittain said: “The victim is to be commended for reporting this distressing incident as, by having the strength to support the investigation, she has helped keep others safe while achieving justice for herself.
“As she read out her victim impact statement to the court, it was clear how much she has been affected by what happened, and I am extremely glad she says she has felt well supported by police throughout.
“I hope this conviction is reassurance to others that when such concerning incidents are reported, we will be as thorough and relentless as possible in securing all available evidence to bring offenders to justice.”
UPDATE 080325
A guy from Gloucester, convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in his taxi, has had his two-year suspended sentence escalated to four years of incarceration.
Taranjit Singh, referred to as Tony, was employed as a cab driver in November 2021 when he transported a woman to an industrial estate instead of her residence.
The victim, having slept off in her vehicle, awakened to discover Singh perpetrating a sexual attack against her.
Singh, now 50 years old, was convicted on three counts of sexual assault and was initially sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on 18 October 2024 to 24 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The Attorney General’s Office referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration under the Unduly Lenient Sentence procedure.
The Court of Appeal determined that the first sentence was excessively lenient, resulting in Singh’s sentence being elevated to four years’ imprisonment on Tuesday, January 21.
Singh will be permanently listed on the sex offenders’ registry and has been issued an indefinite restraining order prohibiting any contact with the victim. He has been prohibited from serving as a cab driver for a duration of 10 years.
A judge issued a warrant for Singh’s arrest the day following the Court of Appeal hearing; however, Singh is suspected to have departed the country during this period. Efforts are on to find him.
Detective Constable Annabel Brittain stated: “We labour diligently to ensure that individuals such as Singh are brought before the courts, and that victims obtain the justice they merit.”
The determination of the sentence rests solely with the judge, beyond our control; however, I am gratified that Singh’s sentence has been augmented to correspond with the gravity of his actions. This is welcomed by the victim, and I trust it also provides reassurance to the public while discouraging criminals.
“Singh’s disappearance is ignoble, yet I remain optimistic that he will soon be apprehended to commence his incarceration.”
I strongly encourage all individuals who have experienced sexual assault to disclose the incident to law enforcement, with the assurance that they will get help and that their accounts will be meticulously and compassionately examined.
Anita Hudson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown case Service South West, stated: “We express our gratitude to the victim for her fortitude and valour in endorsing this prosecution, notwithstanding the considerable repercussions this incident has inflicted upon her.”
We firmly believed that the suspended sentence rendered after the trial inadequately represented the gravity of the conduct and the considerable effect on the victim. The case was consequently submitted to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing procedure, leading to the sentence being reassessed and substituted with a term of four years’ imprisonment.
“We are gratified to have achieved justice for the victim in this matter.”
“We aim for every victim of sexual assault to feel assured in reporting abuse, knowing that support is accessible and that the police and CPS are dedicated to achieving justice.”
If you have endured rape, sexual assault, or abuse and intend to report the crime, please contact the police by dialling 101 or 999 in an emergency. Sexual offences can also be reported online at the following link: https://www.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/
The Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre provides assistance to women confronting the repercussions of rape and sexual abuse. For additional information, please visit their website at www.glosrasac.org/
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.