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A bogus taxi driver from Gravesend who lured a woman into his car before raping her in her own home has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
Idris Ibra, 20, admitted targetting the victim as she made her way home after a night out in Maidstone.
She had booked a taxi from the town centre last July. As she was waiting for the car, Ibra appeared and made her believe he was her driver. He led her to his vehicle and after taking her home, followed the victim inside and raped her.
After the attack, the victim immediately called police, reporting in her confusion that the driver of the genuine taxi she ordered was responsible.
However, an investigation quickly established the offender was someone else. CCTV footage was identified of a car leaving town with the victim inside. The vehicle was traced to Ibra and he was arrested the next day.
During a police interview Ibra claimed he had been in a relationship with the victim for almost three months, although he couldn’t provide her name. He denied raping her, adding the allegations were a result of him being blackmailed by the victim for money.
These claims were all lies.
Ibra, of Perry Street, Gravesend was charged with rape and pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court.
On Tuesday, Judge Philip Shorrock told Ibra: "you plainly did not care about your actions upon her".
Ibra will have to serve a minimum of six years before he can be considered for parole and will then have an extended licence of three years. He was also added to sex offenders’ register, for life.
Detective Sergeant Alastair Worton of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Ibra deceived the victim by allowing her to believe he was the genuine taxi driver waiting to take her home safely. After the journey he then raped the victim, leaving her in a state of considerable mental and physical distress and under the false impression that the offender was the genuine taxi driver she had booked.
"Throughout this investigation Ibra has demonstrated his callous and devious nature, by spinning a web of lies about a false relationship with the woman in an attempt to justify his actions, discredit her character and avoid any blame.
"His guilty plea is testament not only to the tremendous strength and courage shown by the victim, who never wavered in her determination to support a prosecution, but also to the overwhelming evidence gathered by our detectives which left Ibra with no choice but to finally confess to his despicable actions in court."
Kent Police were unable to provide a mug shot of Ibra.
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