TAXI DRIVER JAILED FOR RAPING VULNERABLE WOMAN IN BIRKENHEAD

A man named Yassar Murat Ayuc, aged 49, also known as Turkish Tony, was found guilty of raping a woman and then covering her with leaves to hide her after she played dead. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday, June 5 of the previous year near Rock Ferry Oil Terminal. The victim, described as vulnerable and intoxicated, was allegedly targeted by Ayuc, a taxi driver and bouncer, who took her to a secluded spot. There, he raped her, and when she appeared to be unconscious, he panicked and covered her in broken weed fronds, leaving her face down on the ground. Despite forensic evidence linking him to the assault, Ayuc claimed that the woman forced herself on him and was too strong for him to stop, also alleging he feared she might damage his penis. However, a jury rejected his claims, and he was convicted of rape. At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge Brian Cummings, QC, sentenced him to nine years in prison, with an extended five-year license period. The judge described Ayuc as a "dangerous sexual predator and liar" and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. It was noted that he had a history of misconduct, including a six-month suspension of his taxi license in 2015 for driving hen parties in an illegal stretch limo. The judge believed Ayuc had been hanging around outside nightclubs in Liverpool looking for vulnerable women rather than socializing with friends. Forensic examination confirmed Ayuc’s DNA was present on the victim’s clothing. The woman’s mobile phone and wallet were never recovered, and she sought help from a taxi driver at around 5:10 am. Overall, the case highlighted Ayuc’s predatory behavior and his failure to show regard for the victim, who was described as being extremely intoxicated at the time. The court emphasized his role as a "dangerous sexual predator and a dangerous liar," and he was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for life.