ABID MUHAMMAD JAILLED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR GROPING STUDENT AFTER OFFERING LIFT IN KENILWORTH
In a disturbing incident that took place in the early hours of March 2020, a delivery driver from Birmingham, Abid Muhammad, was convicted and sentenced for sexually assaulting a university student after offering her a lift in his van.The young woman, who had been out drinking in Leamington, found herself stranded when her taxi driver only managed to take her as far as Kenilworth, likely due to insufficient fare money for the full journey back to Coventry.
While making newspaper deliveries in the area, Muhammad, who resides on Creswell Road in Hall Green, Birmingham, noticed the visibly intoxicated student.
He approached her and offered to give her a ride home, claiming he needed to complete a few more deliveries along the way.
Grateful for the assistance, the student accepted his offer and even helped him with dropping off papers at various shops.
However, the situation took a sinister turn as the journey progressed.
The student began to feel increasingly uneasy as Muhammad’s comments towards her became more suggestive.
She grew concerned when he asked her to sit closer to him in the van.
Her fears materialized when, while still driving, Muhammad reached across and inappropriately touched her.
He placed his hand under her top and made contact with her breast, in addition to touching her elsewhere on her body over her clothes.
During the ordeal, the student sent text messages to a friend, expressing her discomfort and fear.
The friend, alarmed by her messages, contacted the police immediately.
Muhammad was subsequently arrested, during which he initially denied any sexual assault.
He maintained his denial during his first court appearance at Warwick Crown Court.
At the hearing, Muhammad, aged 29, of Creswell Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, changed his plea to guilty.
Judge Barry Berlin sentenced him to 17 months in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for ten years.
The case highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals in situations where trust is exploited, and underscores the importance of swift police action in responding to reports of sexual misconduct.
