Taxi driver jailed for sexually assaulting three women passengers

A taxi driver who sexually assaulted three women passengers in his vehicle has been jailed for 21 months.

Alexandru Tapurin, of Norwich, repeatedly asked for sex from one woman who he picked up from a city pub and forced her to engage in sexual activity, Norfolk Police said.

Later that night, in the early hours of January 20, the 36-year-old targeted a second woman, the force said.

He collected the woman, who had booked the taxi via an app, from the city centre then during the journey he pulled into a side road and made repeated unwanted advances verbally and physically.

Police said that after she refused him multiple times he started the engine and took her home.

Tapurin collected his third victim in his cab in the early hours of January 21, and when they reached her destination he again made unwanted advances verbally and physically.

Police said he told her “I’ll see you again” as she got out of the car.

Tapurin pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to three counts of sexual assault, Norfolk Police said.

The force said he was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court to 21 months in prison.

He was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order and made to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.

Detective Sergeant Ricki Peake, who led the investigation, said afterwards: “It goes without saying that women should be able to rely on a taxi to get them home safely whether they are on a night out with friends, in the city, or finishing a shift at work.”

Published: 06/09/2024 by Radio NewsHub