Taxi Driver Jailed Seven Years for Raping Passenger

Taxi Driver Jailed Seven Years for Raping Passenger

A Glasgow taxi driver has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a vulnerable passenger he picked up following a night out. The case has renewed concerns over passenger safety and the responsibilities of taxi operators.

Thomas Tosh, 39, attacked a 23-year-old woman at his home in Drumchapel after picking her and her friends from a pub in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, in the early hours of 30 September 2023. At the time, the victim was intoxicated and unable to give consent.

Prosecutors revealed that Tosh logged out of the taxi’s GPS system after dropping the other passengers, deliberately concealing his actions. He then drove the woman to his home, committed the assault, and only two hours later resumed normal taxi operations, dropping her at her residence.

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Tosh was identified after a friend of the victim showed her a photo of him on social media. Evidence including DNA, text messages, and witness statements helped secure his conviction in February at the High Court in Glasgow.

During sentencing, Tosh was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and issued a 10-year non-contact order with his victim. Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, described the attack as a “despicable betrayal of trust” and praised the victim for her courage throughout the prosecution.

The case has drawn attention to the need for enhanced safety measures in taxis, including strict GPS monitoring, driver vetting, and passenger awareness campaigns, to prevent similar attacks in the future.

Taxi Driver Jailed Seven Years for Raping Passenger