IN THE NEWS BOGUS CABBIE JAILED FOR 20 MONTHS FOR ABDUCTING WOMAN IN STIRLING & SEXUAL ASSAULT


A man who posed as a taxi driver to abduct a 22-year-old woman near a Stirling nightclub and go on to sexually assault her has been sentenced to 20 months in prison. Mahmoud Kalawizada, 32, was convicted after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault and abduct- ion, having offered “taxi services when not licensed as a taxi driver.” Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Kalawizada, described by social workers as a risk to women, parked his “unmarked BMW in a loading bay next to an official taxi rank”


near Fubar night- club around 1am on August 14, 2022. The victim thought his car was a taxi because of where it was waiting and got into the front seat after finding the rear doors “appeared to be locked.” Instead of taking her home, Kalawizada drove


her to


Tillicoultry, demanding oral sex at one point to settle the fare. He eventually turned into a quiet, dark residential road, stopped and


locked the car. He stroked her hair, “tried to climb over the central console to straddle her,” pulled up her skirt, and put his hand on her upper thigh.


The assault ended when the victim screamed and managed to get the door open and escape. Sheriff Craig Harris told Kalawizada: “The case is serious, involving a high level of culpability. It involved both deception and breaching the trust the complainer placed in you thinking you were a legitimate taxi driver.


OXFORDSHIRE FIRM INVESTIGATED OVER SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS ON SCHOOL ROUTES


Go Green Taxis, based in Didcot, has operated school transport routes across Abingdon, Bicester, Didcot, Henley, Oxford, Walling- ford, Wantage, Witney, Newbury and Reading for over 15 years. The company provides home-to- school transport on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC), including for SEND children. OCC has confirmed that Go Green Taxis has been temporarily replaced with an alternative provider while an investigation is carried out. At least one parent has formally raised concerns with the council. Gemma Rodgerson, from Witney describes how her daughter, 15, who has autism and ADHD and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), was left alone by a driver after being dropped off incorrectly. Ms Rodgerson said: “The driver drove off and left my daughter in Witney. As part of her EHCP, the


20


local authority provides home-to- school transport, and we had no contact to say what had happened. “When I rang the SEN transport department, I was told a taxi would be sent. But by that point she had been left outside on her own. It was dark and cold, around 4pm.” She also alleged a driver was speeding after she tracked the vehicle on her phone, claiming it was doing 43mph in a 20mph zone. Ms Rodgerson also raised concerns about a message she says appeared on drivers’ phones, warning: “Beware, passengers may have autism, ADHD or SEN needs. Why do you need to ‘beware’?” she said. “They’re not animals.” Ms Rodgerson criticised OCC’s response, saying she felt ignored despite repeatedly raising safeguarding concerns: “We need change at the council. SEN parents want to work with the council, but


they just shut you off.” In a statement, a spokeswoman for Go Green Taxis said safeguarding was a “core priority”


for the


company: “We operate hundreds of routes each month and have done so for over 15 years. We respond promptly to any concerns, working with contracting auth- orities, schools, guardians and drivers to ensure the delivery of a safe and secure service.” An OCC spokesman said: “The safety and wellbeing of young people will always be our priority. We are aware of the allegations about Go Green Taxis Ltd and, as with any concerns raised about individuals or organisations, we are thoroughly investigating.” Editor’s


comment: Should all


school contract vehicles have CCTV fitted to not only protect the children BUT also protect the drivers from false allegations?


JANUARY 2026 PHTM


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