Taxi man is jailed after sex attack on girl, 14

A TAXI driver who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl had been granted a taxi licence despite Oldham Council being made aware of a previous conviction for indecent assault.

Moshraf Ali (52) was jailed for 12 months after being convicted of sexual assault and was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years after being found guilty of one count of sexual assault at a trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.

Ali, of Hilltop Drive, Royton, was granted a licence to drive taxis by the council in 2003, despite the panel being made aware he had been conditionally discharged for indecent assault in 2001.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "This is completely unacceptable. We take offences like this very seriously.

"Ali was granted with a warning over future conduct as members were aware he had been conditionally discharged for indecent assault in 2001. Guidelines have changed since then. Under our current process he would not have been granted a licence.

"In June 2015, we revoked Ali's licence after we were notified by Greater Manchester Police that he was to appear before court after being charged with this offence."

The mum of the 14-year-old girl victim of Ali has also spoken out after his sentence,

The girl took a private hire car home from a friend's house late at night because her mother felt it was safer than public transport or walking. But Ali began driving slowly on the short journey, made wrong turns and took the longest route to the address.

He started asking her sexual questions and he leaned over from the driver's seat and groped her.

After the case, the victim's mother described how the incident has had a lasting effect on her daughter. She said: "He started asking inappropriate questions, asking if she had any pictures of her posing. She was feeling very uncomfortable.

"She kept saying how old she was and that she is still at school but it didn't stop him. He put his arm on her leg and started moving it up to the inside of her thigh.

"She was able to get out of the car and the police were called."

The victim's mother added: "She was really scared. Having to go to court and give evidence was very stressful and upsetting. She is perturbed by it and whenever she goes in a cab it has to be a woman driver.

"You tell your kids to go in a cab if it is late because you think it's safer. I have had a lot of anger going through this and the trial."