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The courtroom scene during the trial in Malaga.
Seven years for the taxi driver who raped a British tourist

Seven years for the taxi driver who raped a British tourist

The woman, who gave evidence via videolink and translator, said he had stopped his cab on the way to her hotel after a night out in Benalmádena

Álvaro FRÍAS / Juan CANO

Friday, 14 December 2018, 11:48

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malaga. Judges in Malaga have handed down a seven-year prison sentence to a 35-year-old taxi driver who raped a British tourist after a night out in Benalmádena.

According to the court verdict, the guilty man picked up the tourist on 21 June 2014 at 3.25am from Plaza Solymar, in the centre of the nightlife district of Benalmádena Costa.

He realised soon into the journey that his passenger was drunk, equivalent to four times over the illegal driving limit, said the court. Changing his route to Parque Olivar in Torremolinos, he stopped the car and moved onto the back seat, attacking the victim. He then carried on taking the woman to her hotel, where a receptionist was told by her what had happened.

The judges said that the victim had been highly credible and coherent in her version of events. Presenting evidence by videolink and with the help of a translator, she had explained that she had had a few drinks with some girlfriends and decided to return to her hotel by taxi, as she had been told that it was dangerous to walk back alone.

"He stopped the car, locked the doors, coming round to the back seats," she had explained.

In contrast, judges said that the taxi driver's version of events had little credibility. In his defence during the trial, he had said that the woman had insinuated that she wanted sex. He went on, according to his testimony, that it was only after he refused to go up to her bedroom with him afterwards that she called the police.

However, taking into account the receptionist's and police statements and the woman's injuries, the court dismissed the man's story.

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