ASIF HUSSAIN AND SHOCKING SEX ATTACK IN WEST BROMWICH AND DERBYSHIRE

A disturbing incident unfolded in West Bromwich where a taxi driver named Asif Hussain carried out a brutal sexual assault on a young woman in her own neighborhood. The victim, who is only 23 years old, had been enjoying a night out with friends in Ashby town centre when she encountered Hussain, a 44-year-old man. According to reports, Hussain approached her outside a local takeaway and inquired if she needed a cab to go home, a seemingly routine gesture.

However, the situation took a horrifying turn when Hussain’s actions escalated into violence. After arranging for a fare, Hussain's vehicle, registered with Leicester City Council, first dropped off one of the woman’s friends in Derby. He then proceeded towards her residence near Swadlincote. As she was preparing to leave the taxi, Hussain suddenly seized her face forcibly. The young woman described her terror, stating that she believed she was about to be raped. She desperately tried to resist and said 'no' multiple times, but Hussain continued his assault while making sexual noises, leaving her frozen in fear.

The victim quickly escaped from the car and ran into her home, where her mother found her in a state of extreme distress—hysterical, sobbing uncontrollably, and hyperventilating. She recounted to her mother that Hussain had attempted to rape her, an account supported by DNA evidence linking the suspect to the victim’s clothing and his vehicle, a red Toyota Prius.

The court heard that the attack caused lasting emotional trauma. In a victim impact statement, the young woman expressed her fear and admitted that she no longer feels safe walking alone in her own street. Her sense of security was shattered by Hussain’s violent act.

Hussain was summoned to appear before Derby Crown Court, where he faced charges of sexual assault. He pleaded guilty on the day slated for his trial to the one count against him. During sentencing, Judge Shaun Smith QC detailed the gravity of the offence, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in a taxi driver assaulting a passenger. The judge stated, “This is about a 23-year-old woman who got into a (then) 41-year-old man's taxi and trusted that taxi driver to take her home, be polite, take her money, and go to another job. The public are entitled to know that when they get into a taxi, they will not be assaulted in this or any other way, and the public must be protected.”

The judge further explained that Hussain’s actions, driven by his own sexual desires, left the victim feeling powerless and terrified, nearly to the point of believing she might be seriously harmed or raped. Asif Hussain, of Vicarage Road in Sandwell, West Midlands, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. His criminal record was noted to be clean prior to this offence.

Representing Hussain, solicitor Mohammed Latif acknowledged the profound embarrassment and shame his client experienced within his community and family. The defense highlighted that Hussain, a married father of one, had since been disowned by his former wife—whom he'd been with for nearly twenty years—and had remarried, with a nine-month-old child with his new partner. They noted that following his arrest, Hussain ceased working as a taxi driver and transitioned to a role as a delivery driver.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Hussain to register as a sex offender for ten years, recognizing the serious nature of his misconduct and the potential risk to the public. This case underscores the importance of safety and trust in service professions and serves as a stark warning about the consequences of such egregious violations of personal safety.