A TAXI driver has been jailed for ten years after he was found guilty of raping a woman in Huddersfield.

Imran Rashid Ahmed was convicted on Thursday at Leeds Crown Court following a trial last week and was sentenced there on Friday.

The incident occurred in the early hours of July 20 last year when Ahmed, 41, came across his victim as he drove his car along Huddersfield Road in Holmfirth.

He offered her a lift and took her to the Blackmoorfoot area, where he raped her before dropping her off in the town centre.

A friend of the victim reported the offence to police shortly afterwards and an investigation was launched by the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team to find the suspect, while specially trained officers provided support to the victim. 

Enquiries led officers to Ahmed, who was arrested the following day from his address in Thornton Lodge Road and charged with the offence a short time later.

He appeared before magistrates on July 23, where he was remanded into custody.

Speaking after Ahmed was sentenced, Detective Chief Inspector Natalie Dawson, said:

“We hope this outcome will be of some comfort to the victim and to other women and girls in West Yorkshire, so they can feel safer in our public spaces.

“We also hope it will encourage other victims to come forward and report such crimes to our specially trained officers, so they can provide the support needed and take action against perpetrators.”