SHAME SHAME
EDINBURGH CABBIE JAILED FOR SIX YEARS FOR HISTORIC SEX ATTACKS ON TWO GIRLS
An Edinburgh cabbie who was previously placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of historic sexual abuse against two young girls. Akbar Ali, 47, of Edinburgh, was convicted unanimously at the High Court in Livingston for offences committed between September 1996 and December 1998, as well as between October 2005 and October 2006. During his trial, the court heard how Ali attempted to rape a girl aged 16 or 17 after removing her clothing while she slept, continuing the attack after she awoke. He attacked a second
victim, aged just 14, by removing her clothing and touching her breasts and buttocks. Both girls were temp- orarily in his care at the time. Despite holding down employ- ment in Edinburgh’s taxi trade alongside a second job, it was revealed after the verdict that Ali had a directly analogous con- viction from 2003 for a sexual offence against a young person. Defending council Lisa Gillespie KC told the court that Ali had since become a “workaholic” and a “model citizen” who was happily
married with two children, adding that his wife was “shocked and deeply upset” by the convictions and stated: “I don’t recognise the man as the husband and father I know today.” However, Judge Susan Craig emphasised the severity of his actions and breach of his position of trust, noting that Ali had accumulated a “record for three separate sexual assaults committed over several years against three separate victims” while enforcing non-harassment orders, indefinite placement on the sex offenders' register, and a complete bar from working with vulnerable groups.
WAKEFIELD CABBIE JAILED AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH £120,000 OF CLASS A DRUGS
A licensed cabbie from Wakefield has been jailed for six years and eight months after using his cab as a cover to transport up to £120,000 worth of cocaine. Hasan Saghir, 26, travelled 220 miles from his home to Shepton Mallet in Somerset on 6 February to collect the package, using his cab to blend in and evade detection. Leeds Crown Court heard how a supposed passenger entered Saghir’s Toyota Prius carrying a black bag before getting out a short drive later, leaving the bag behind. Internal CCTV footage inside the vehicle recorded Saghir calling an associate to confirm the delivery was “sorted” while peering into the bag. Police officers arrested him shortly afterwards at a nearby
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petrol station, seizing two kilograms of 90% pure cocaine with an estimated street value of between £38,000 and £120,000. A subsequent search of Saghir’s home uncovered a further £48,000 worth of heroin. Although Saghir confirmed his address during his initial police interview,
he
subsequently refused to answer further questions before admitting to two counts of dealing Class A drugs at court. In mitigation, defence barrister Mohammed Rafiq explained that Saghir, who had no previous convictions, had developed a severe cocaine addiction that left him owing thousands of pounds. “He was under pressure to pay and got involved into the world of drug
supply,” Mr Rafiq said, adding that Saghir was ashamed and realised what he had done was wrong. Judge Ray Singh firmly rejected Saghir’s claim that he was merely acting as a courier, describing the defence as “fanciful” and “non- sense.” Sentencing Saghir, Judge Singh told him: “You understood completely the scale of this operation. This is not foolish behaviour or a lapse of judgement. This was a conscious decision by you to be involved in the supply of Class A drugs, undoubtedly on the streets of this county.” The judge added that the severity of the offence was heightened by Saghir using a staged taxi journey to
discreetly carry exchange. NOVEMBER 2026 PHTM out the
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