TAXI FIRM STALKER SENTENCED FOR TWO YEARS OF TERRIFYING CONTROL
A man named Usman Zaman used his connections through his work at a taxi company to stalk and control his former partner, subjecting her to two years of persistent harassment and fear.During court proceedings, the victim described how Zaman would repeatedly follow her, ask intrusive questions about her diet and menstrual cycle, and demand to know her whereabouts and details of her personal life.
One distressing incident involved Zaman using his vehicle to block her and her friends from escaping in a taxi.
The woman, now 27, stated, "I have been persistently controlled, followed and monitored.
I was strong, independent and carefree - now I'm terrified of leaving my own home." Zaman, of Whitby Avenue in Fartown, pleaded guilty to stalking her between July 21 and September 23, 2018.
Prosecutor Jess Lister recounted that Zaman's controlling behavior included questioning her about her activities, following her to work, and visiting her friends' addresses and calling her colleagues.
Things escalated when on September 21, Zaman entered her house uninvited and got into her bed.
The victim also described an episode where he followed her and her friends after they left a club, and when she indicated she would call the police, he drove away.
The court was told about the large volume of unwanted messages Zaman sent her—up to 50 calls and 20 texts in a single day—and his refusal to leave her alone despite her repeated requests.
She revealed that Zaman had been married throughout their relationship and had three children with his wife, which she discovered later.
Her emotional health suffered severely, causing her to withdraw from friends and affect her work.
Zaman's behavior was highly planned, involving use of his family's and work connections to locate her and manipulate her life.
The victim expressed her ongoing fear, stating, "I am in constant fear that Usman is waiting outside and the impact upon my emotional health has been unimaginable." The court adjourned sentencing to November 29 to allow for a pre-sentence report, and Zaman was bailed with conditions to stay away from several addresses, including that of the victim.
