ZAHEER HUSSAIN, THE NOTTINGHAM TAXI DRIVER AND SERIAL SEX OFFENDER, SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS

Zaheer Hussain, a 45-year-old taxi driver from Nottingham, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term following a series of heinous crimes involving sexual assault and misconduct. His criminal activities spanned over a period during which he exploited his position as a driver to prey on vulnerable young women, leading to multiple convictions and a significant legal crackdown.

Hussain was initially convicted in February of this year for attacking two young women who had been passengers in his taxi. These assaults were particularly disturbing, as they involved not only physical abuse but also an attempt to manipulate the victims through bribery. Unbeknownst to the jury, Hussain had previously entered a guilty plea for obstructing justice, having tried to undermine the evidence against him by attempting to bribe witnesses.

Specifically, Hussain sought to influence the testimony of a key witness and one of his victims by offering each of them £6,000 in exchange for altering their accounts of the incidents. This illicit attempt at tampering with justice was uncovered when investigators obtained CCTV footage showing a figure resembling Hussain waiting at a specific location for days, which was the meeting point he had proposed for the exchange. The evidence was clear and was reported to the police, further solidifying his guilt.

The police investigation into Hussain’s activities began after a disturbing incident on April 23, 2022, involving a young woman in Nottingham City Centre. Hussain picked her up and, after offering her a cigarette, he inappropriately touched her by placing his hand beneath her skirt and caressing her thigh. This assault was captured on CCTV, which played a crucial role in his identification and subsequent arrest.

Following his initial arrest, Hussain was interviewed under caution but was released, seemingly unfazed by the police scrutiny. Despite this, he continued to operate his taxi service and committed another serious offence approximately eight months later. During this subsequent incident, he engaged a different victim with a series of highly inappropriate sexual questions before pulling over and subjecting her to further severe assaults.

Hussain’s legal journey culminated in a retrial at Nottingham Crown Court, where he faced multiple charges. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. However, he was acquitted of a separate charge involving a third young woman. During the trial, Hussain claimed that his victims, who were both seated in the front seat during the assaults and had no prior knowledge of each other, were fabricating their allegations. His defense also attempted to dismiss the DNA evidence linking him to the second victim, claiming she had made a sexual advance towards him instead.

On Friday, Hussain, formerly residing on Wilford Crescent East, was sentenced to a total of 16 years in prison—11 years to be served behind bars and an additional five years on extended license. The court also issued a restraining order to prevent him from making any contact with his victims in the future. His legal representatives stated that Hussain expressed remorse for his actions and regretted subjecting his victims to the ordeal of a court trial.

Detective Constable Rachael Flitton of Nottinghamshire Police commented on the case, emphasizing the predatory and calculated nature of Hussain’s behavior. She highlighted that despite previous police interactions, Hussain’s offending escalated, leading to even more serious assaults on another young woman. She praised the bravery and resilience of the victims, acknowledging their crucial role in bringing Hussain to justice and protecting others from potential harm.

As Hussain begins his substantial prison sentence, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders operating under the guise of everyday services like taxi driving in Nottingham.