Cabbie Jailed For Raping Terrified Late-Night Passenger

A black cab driver – who raped a lone passenger after driving her to her North London home in the early hours – has been jailed for seven years.

Edward Chapman, 45, (pictured) of Beauly Way, Romford, Essex had picked-up the fare – a woman in her mid-thirties - in Shoreditch, where she had been enjoying an evening with friends.

He was convicted at Wood Green Crown Court of raping the victim in Finchley on August 12, last year and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

After the rape in the cab police identified the vehicle on CCTV due to its distinctive ‘Huffington Post’ advertisement emblazoned on its doors.

Chapman was arrested on August 15 and later charged with rape.



Detective Sergeant Steve Grainger of the Barnet Sapphire unit, who investigate serious sexual crime, said: “Firstly I would like to thank the victim and her family for their courage and support during the investigation. 



“Chapman was a licensed taxi driver who abused his position to take ruthless advantage of this woman.

“It is only by the bravery of victims that people like Chapman can be stopped.



“We understand that some victims may be worried about reporting serious sexual assaults to police, but I would like to reassure the public that we take all reports seriously and will investigate them thoroughly.

“We also have specially trained officers who do all they can to support victims no matter what the circumstances are.”



Judge Browne QC told Chapman: “Black cab drivers have rightly earned a very high reputation as the most reliable drivers round the streets of London and the suburbs.

“By your conviction today, you have damaged the reputation of back cab drivers generally.

“There are several obvious aggravating features of your quite disgraceful conduct. 



"This rape involves a gross breach of trust by a professional driver to his passenger, taking advantage of a vulnerable passenger, the passenger being a total stranger to you.

“Without the considerable courage of victims, rape convictions are impossible.

“The victim of this rape is still affected by her ordeal at your hands, but what emerged about her character was her calmness, her quiet dignity, and her quest for justice, which has been achieved.”