A taxi driver who previously served as a translator for the British Army before moving to Scotland from Afghanistan has been jailed for seven years for raping a teenage passenger.
Abdul Nabizada, 36, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday following his conviction at a trial last month.
Court proceedings established that Nabizada failed to transport the 19-year-old passenger to her home following a night out in November 2021. Instead, he took her mobile phone and drove her to a secluded area of Joppa, near Edinburgh, before carrying out the attack.
The court had previously heard that Nabizada held the victim against her will, seized her phone, struggled with her, and touched her body.
He then raped her.
The victim escaped the vehicle and contacted friends, who located her in a state of distress and fear shortly afterwards.
CCTV footage from Queens Bay Crescent subsequently captured Nabizada returning to the scene multiple times following the assault.
Judge John Morris KC called it a "crime of opportunism".
He said: "The jury has unanimously convicted you of committing a serious sexual assault on a vulnerable woman. The offence is an extremely serious one."
He informed Nabizada that his actions had caused a "long-lasting impact" on the victim, which she outlined in a victim impact statement.
"[She] was particularly vulnerable because she was intoxicated and that should have been obvious to you," Judge Morris continued. The [assault] occurred when you were responsible for transporting her home."
Nabizada maintained his innocence, while defence lawyer David Taylor detailed how his client arrived in Scotland having worked as an interpreter for US, Danish, and British armed forces in his native Afghanistan.
The court heard he holds indefinite leave to remain in the UK and has submitted an application for British citizenship.
Mr Taylor stated that Nabizada is now concerned about potential deportation following the conviction.
Judge Morris noted he had taken into account several positive character references provided on Nabizada's behalf ahead of sentencing. He also considered Nabizada's clean criminal record and his circumstances as a "family man" with four children.
Judge Morris sentenced Nabizada to seven years' imprisonment and placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely. He was additionally instructed not to contact or approach the victim. Attending the hearing in a black suit, Nabizada was accompanied by an interpreter.
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said the conviction reflected the victim's bravery in reporting the incident and diligent police work.
"Officers had to piece together evidence from a range of sources to identify the offender and build the case that was presented in court," she said.
"The victim should have been able to trust that her journey home would be safe. Instead, she was seriously sexually assaulted by a taxi driver who took advantage of her vulnerability and abused his position resulting in a deeply traumatic experience."
Ms Cook added: "While stranger offending is rare, Scotland’s prosecutors treat every report of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, recognising the profound and lasting impact these crimes have on victims and communities.
"I hope this conviction provides reassurance that reports will be thoroughly investigated and that COPFS will work with policing partners to ensure offenders are held accountable."
Detective Inspector Kirsty McArthur said: "This was a shocking attack on a woman in the city, and Nabizada will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.
"We remain committed to tackling sexual crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. I’d encourage anyone who has been a victim of such crimes to come forward and report it to us.
"We’ll thoroughly investigate and have specially trained officers and partner agencies to support you throughout to ensure those responsible are brought to justice."
