LIAQAT ALI SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MIDDLESBROUGH
In December 2012, a disturbing case of sexual assault involving a Middlesbrough taxi driver, Liaqat Ali, came to light, leaving a lasting impact on the victim and her family.The incident, which took place in the heart of Middlesbrough, has sparked widespread concern about the safety of young women in the area.
According to reports, Liaqat Ali, a married man aged 42 and residing on Abingdon Road in Middlesbrough, targeted a vulnerable 16-year-old girl after picking her up in his hackney carriage.
The young girl, who had been drinking and was visibly drowsy, was approached by Ali in the central part of Middlesbrough.
Instead of taking her directly home, Ali drove her to a secluded location where he committed a sexual assault, forcing her to perform a sex act on him.
The assault has been described as a heinous and traumatic event that has profoundly affected the victim and her family.
Following a trial at Teesside Crown Court last month, Ali was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Additionally, he received a lifelong ban from driving taxis under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, a measure designed to prevent him from reoffending in the future.
The sentence has been met with a mixture of relief and resignation from the victim’s mother, who expressed her feelings to the Gazette.
She stated that she was “quite happy” with the sentence but emphasized that it would not undo the damage done.
“It is not going to change anything.
It is always going to be there.
It is always going to be part of our lives what has happened to her,” she said.
The mother described her daughter as a “vibrant, happy-go-lucky” girl before the incident, but the trauma has left her wary and distrustful of others.
She revealed that her daughter, who was 16 at the time and is now 17, has become more cautious and anxious about walking alone.
The mother expressed her concern about her daughter’s diminished confidence and the lasting scars of the assault.
The case also shed light on the circumstances leading up to the assault.
The mother believes her daughter was “picked out” by Ali as she walked alone along Linthorpe Road on March 2 of that year.
She explained that Ali was the one who pulled over and offered her a taxi, rather than her flagging him down.
The mother suspects that Ali targeted her daughter because he saw her in a vulnerable state, as she was under the influence of alcohol and walking alone.
She emphasized that her daughter did not want to take the taxi and was willing to walk home, but Ali’s actions changed the course of events.
Police officials have welcomed the court’s decision, with Detective Constable Tom Sewell commenting on the case.
He stated, “He took advantage of a young girl who just wanted to get home after a night out, and his time in custody will prevent him from being a danger to other vulnerable women.
The victim in this case has shown great courage throughout the trial, and I hope that this sentence will help her and her family to move on with their lives.” The case has highlighted the importance of vigilance and safeguarding, especially for young women in Middlesbrough and similar communities, and serves as a reminder of the dangers that can lurk even in familiar settings.
