Rapist, 41, who posed as a taxi driver to sexually assault women he picked up is jailed for 22 years

A rapist who posed as a taxi driver to kidnap and sexually assault women he picked up outside nightclubs has been sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Thasawar Iqbal, 41, targeted single women on a night out in Birmingham by luring them into his fake taxi.

A court heard the monster sexually assaulted two victims a few months apart and raped the second woman while she was out on bail for assaulting the other.

The second victim agreed to have Iqbal’s number during the attack, which she passed on to the police so that he could be arrested and charged.

The rapist first struck by offering a woman a lift home from the city center on December 19, 2021 while posing as a taxi driver.

Iqbal drove Digbeth’s wife to an unknown location, took drugs while driving and offered them to her along with alcohol, which she refused.

He made sexual advances to the woman before stopping at a house, trying to bring her in, but she managed to escape and hide.

He was later arrested and released on bail but struck again in the Handsworth Wood area of ​​the city in the early hours of July 10 last year.

Iqbal picked up another woman as she was walking alone, blocked her path and offered her a ride which she initially refused.

He continued to follow the woman, convincing her that he was a taxi driver and lying that he would get her home safely.

He took her to the car park of a local pub where he sexually assaulted her. He then offered to drop her off at home and asked for her phone number.

The quick-thinking victim agreed to have Iqbal’s number, which she passed on to the police and Iqbal was subsequently arrested and charged.

Iqbal, of no fixed abode but from the Birmingham area, was found guilty of kidnapping with intent to commit a sex offence, assault and rape.

Iqbal was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court last Friday (pictured) (File Image)

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison at Birmingham Crown Court last Friday.

Detective Constable Soniya Ram of the West Midlands Police Department’s specialist Public Protection Unit, said: ‘Iqbal is a predatory sex offender.

Although an opportunist, his actions were persistent and pre-planned, posing as a taxi driver to pick up young vulnerable women, drive them to locations of his choosing and sexually assault them.

“He has inflicted so much fear and sexual violence on both women, completely ignoring the fact that he was already under investigation when he re-offended last July.

“The women endured traumatic trials, but bravely came forward to tell what happened to them to help us arrest him.

“With the help of the Public Prosecution Service, we have placed him in pre-trial detention from July 2022 to prevent others from becoming victims.

“Iqbal’s conviction is a testament to the courageous actions of both women and thankfully he is now off the streets and will be behind bars for a long time.”