SHAME SHAME


TAXI DRIVER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TEENAGER AFTER NIGHT OUT IN FALKIRK


Taxi driver Jaswinder Singh has been found guilty of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman he was driving home from a night out in Falkirk. The assault occurred in the early hours of February 4, 2024, after the victim was directed to Singh's cab by taxi marshals at a rank in Falkirk town centre.


She had been leaving a nearby nightclub after spending the evening with friends. The victim testified that she “panicked” after Singh stopped the car at the end of the journey, following the assault. She ran home and immediately told her father, who then contacted the police.


The first officer on the scene des- cribed the victim as “completely distraught.” Evidence


pre-


sented at the trial included DNA link- ing Singh to the assault. The 51-year-old, from Falkirk, denied the charge. However, a jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding him guilty. Singh’s defence solicitor, Gordon Addison, noted that his client was a first-time offender with no other outstanding cases. Despite this, Sheriff Maryam Labaki revoked Singh’s bail and remanded him in custody pending


reports and a risk assessment. Sentencing was deferred until the end of February. Sheriff Labaki emphasised the gravity of Singh’s


crime. “The


complainer was a vulnerable young person trusting you to deliver her home safely,” she told Singh. “You gravely breached that position of trust by sexually assaulting her.” Prosecutor Alistair McDermid described Singh, a taxi driver of 16 years, as having subjected his lone and vulnerable victim to “a terrifying and vicious sexual assault.” Sheriff Labaki also ordered that Singh be placed on the sex offenders’ register.


DRUNK CABBIE WITH MOTHER IN CAR WEAVES ACROSS M1 PROMPTING ROLLING ROADBLOCK


A dramatic scene unfolded on the northbound M1 in Leicestershire when a drunk taxi driver’s erratic driving prompted a rolling road- block to protect other motorists. Nadarajah Balan, 47, was observed swerving between lanes near Ratby with his 90-year-old mother as a passenger in his Volkswagen. A National Highways officer witnessed Balan’s


dangerous


manoeuvres and alerted Leicestershire Police, who then implemented a moving roadblock. This tactic allowed officers to safely surround Balan’s vehicle and bring him to a stop. Upon exiting the car, Balan smelled strongly of alcohol and subsequently failed a roadside breath test.


48


Balan’s breath test at the police station registered 69 micro- grammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, nearly double the legal limit of 35 microgrammes. He pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 5 February. His defence lawyer, David Jennings, offered an explanation for Balan’s condition saying his client did not realise he had been drinking alcohol. He added that at the time he was pulled over, Balan had been feeling drowsy and planning to pull over to rest. “He had been drinking orange juice that was in the car,” Mr. Jennings told the court.


“He thought it tasted bitter but


continued to drink it. He realised that orange was laced with something.” Mr. Jennings also highlighted the severe consequences Balan now faces, including the loss of his taxi licence and the potential inability to pay his mortgage. “He’s going to find life difficult going forward,” Mr. Jennings stated, urging the court to “keep his ban to the minimum.” Despite the plea, Balan, from Shildon, Co Durham, received a 20- month driving ban. He was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 in court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.


The incident occurred at 6:40 pm on Sunday, 19 January.


MARCH 2025 PHTM


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