Uber driver who raped passenger then took a selfie with her jailed for 12 years

'The harm you did that night is incalculable,' says judge

Southwark Crown Court sentenced Muhammad Khurram Durrani to 12 years in prison for rape, and eight for sexual assault, to run concurrently. (Reuters)

An Uber driver who raped a passenger in the back of his car before taking a selfie with her, has been jailed for 12 years.

Muhammad Khurram Durrani dropped the 27-year-old woman at her home address on the night 23 July 2016, Southwark Crown Court, heard.

The 38-year-old “lost all sense of self-control” after taking pictures of the woman as she slept in the back of his car, Judge David Tomlinson said as he passed sentence.

After they arrived at her home, his victim approached her front door, but Durrani picked her up from behind and carried her to the car.

There, he sexually assaulted and raped her, before taking selfie images with her while at least one of her breasts was exposed.

“It comes as no surprise to learn, and it’s no exaggeration to say, you have ruined her life," Judge Tomlinson added. “The harm you did that night is incalculable.”

He had no doubt Durrani was aware his victim was “almost paralytically drunk” when he picked her up, he said.

Durrani, of Streatham, south London, who was convicted in April was sentenced to 12 years in prison for rape and eight years for sexual assault. The jail terms will run concurrently.

The 38-year-old will also be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and subject to a restraining order and sexual harm protection order.

​Durrani, wearing a brown cardigan, remained solemn as he was sentenced but his wife struggled to hold back tears in the public gallery.

Defence lawyer Marie Spenwyn told the judge it was a “one off” and that his relatives in the UK and his native Pakistan had written letters supporting his character.

Detective Constable Peter Monaghan, from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, said: “This woman booked the cab in good faith to safely take her home. Durrani, realising the vulnerability of his victim, abused her trust and raped her. This assault has had a significant impact upon her, and her life, and I would like to thank her for having the courage to come forward and give evidence in court.”

Police said they would like to hear from anyone who believes that they may have been assaulted by Durrani. They are asked to contact the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command team on 101.

Commenting on the case, an Uber spokesman said: “This was a horrific incident and we welcome this conviction. As soon as we heard what happened this licensed private hire driver was immediately stopped from using our app.

“Every trip on the Uber app is tracked by GPS and we worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure this individual was brought to justice.”

Transport for London announced last year that it would not be renewing Uber’s licence to operate in the capital, citing the firm’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences and background checks on drivers.

Uber is appealing against that decision.

If you have been affected by sexual violence, you can find help via the NHS. Rape Crisis offers specialist support for women and girls; and the The Survivors’ Trust supports people of any gender.