ALEXANDRUTAPURIN NORWICH SEXUAL ASSAULTS MINICAB DRIVER SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS

Alexandru Tapurin, a self-employed minicab driver operating within the Norwich area, has been handed a prison sentence of 21 months after being found guilty of multiple sexual assault offenses committed while he was on duty.

The incidents took place in January, during which Tapurin targeted three different women in Norwich, exploiting his position as a driver to carry out these heinous acts. The 36-year-old, who resides on Tizzick Close, pleaded guilty earlier this year to three separate charges related to sexual assault.

During the sentencing hearing at Norwich Crown Court, Judge Andrew Edis delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the gravity of Tapurin’s actions. The judge remarked that one of the victims was “at your mercy with no idea how it would end,” highlighting the vulnerability of the women involved. He further described Tapurin’s conduct as “predatory,” underlining the serious nature of these sexual crimes.

According to police reports, over a single weekend, Tapurin targeted three women, each of whom was assaulted in his taxi. One of these women was simply on her way home from work at the time, illustrating how his crimes affected ordinary members of the community. All three victims endured unwanted physical and verbal advances, with at least one being forcibly subjected to sexual activity. The assaults involved a combination of physical contact and coercive behavior, leaving the victims traumatized.

Detective Sergeant Ricki Peake from Norfolk Police commented on the case, describing Tapurin’s pattern of offending as “unusual.” He emphasized that Tapurin abused a position of trust, which is especially troubling given that women should be able to rely on taxi services to get home safely. Instead, these women were victimized by someone they depended on for their safety.

Tapurin was employed by ABC Taxis, a company based in Norwich that prides itself on passenger safety and has a strict policy against behavior that compromises security. Once the company was made aware of Tapurin’s misconduct, they promptly revoked his license and barred him from operating as a driver with them permanently.

In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed a sexual harm prevention order on Tapurin, restricting his contact with potential victims and monitoring his behavior. He will also be registered on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years.

Furthermore, the Broadland District Council, which issued Tapurin’s private hire vehicle license in March 2023, took immediate action by revoking his license following police notification of the assaults. This move was part of the council’s commitment to ensuring passenger safety and preventing further incidents.

Both police officials and representatives from the taxi company expressed their concern over the disturbing nature of Tapurin’s offenses. Norfolk Police highlighted that Tapurin engaged in “predatory conduct” and classified his actions as “serious sexual offenses.” They also pointed out that the assaults occurred over a short period, with Tapurin picking up different women and assaulting them separately in his taxi, exploiting his role as a trusted driver to commit these crimes.