Man posing as taxi driver sexually assaulted woman who got into his car

A man posing as a taxi driver sexually assaulted a vulnerable woman who got into his car to be taken home.  The victim said she has been left with anxiety which she will “have to live with for the rest of her life”.

Virender Sohal, 42, took advantage of his victim after she had been out drinking in Cardiff city centre in 2022. She had lost her friends and didn’t have any money or keys.  The defendant had been parked in a taxi rank in Mill Lane outside what was then Heidi’s bar and offered to give the victim a lift.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard Sohal persuaded the victim he was “trustworthy” to drive her home, but he drove her around Cardiff and during the journey he touched the victim’s thigh without her consent and stroked it while he was driving.

Prosecutor Julia Cox said the defendant had been “trying to identify lone females” for an hour before approaching the victim. F or the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter. Sohal, of Chandlery Way, Butetown, was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial but was acquitted of assault by penetration. The court heard he was of previous good character.

In a victim personal statement read to the court by Ms Cox the victim said:

“It’s nearly three years on and my anxiety is still with me – I feel like it will never go. It’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life. I still have sleepless nights over it and need counselling support… It was meant to be a happy night to look back on but I want to forget it. Those feelings will always stay with me and will affect how I live my day-to-day life. I always expect the worst to happen.”

In mitigation Christopher Rees KC said his client was the sole breadwinner for his family, including his wife of 16 years and his daughter, and he also supports members of his family in India. Mr Rees said if Sohal was jailed, the defendant’s relatives would suffer.

In sentencing, Recorder Christian Jowett said:

“There is a need to protect young adult women from the risks posed by you.”

Sohal was sentenced to 22 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work and complete a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement. The defendant was made subject to sex offender notification requirements for seven years and ordered to pay £200 in costs.