DEEQ MURSAL AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN BIRMINGHAM
In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through Birmingham, a 38-year-old Uber driver named Deeq Mursal was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage student during a brief but terrifying nine-minute journey.The incident took place early in the morning, and the victim, a young woman still in her teens, was subjected to a series of unwarranted and deeply inappropriate acts while she was under the apparent trust of her driver.
The ordeal began when the victim was waiting to commence her early shift at a hotel on December 9, 2018.
She was at the designated pick-up point when Mursal arrived in his taxi and offered her a ride.
Initially, she intended to sit in the backseat, which is customary and often recommended for safety reasons.
However, contrary to standard practice and the driver’s training protocols, Mursal instructed her to sit in the front seat, a request she agreed to without suspicion at the time.
What followed was a harrowing experience that lasted nearly ten minutes.
According to court reports, during this short ride, Mursal engaged in sexual assault against the teenage girl.
The judge at Birmingham Crown Court described the assault as deliberate and carefully planned.
Judge Paul Farrer QC stated that he believed the assault was premeditated from the moment Mursal picked her up.
The judge commented, “I have no doubt that even at this early stage you had decided you were going to assault her,” emphasizing the calculated nature of the attack.
Court proceedings detailed how Mursal’s actions escalated quickly once the journey commenced.
The judge explained that the driver started the assault almost immediately, placing his hand on her inner thigh and moving upward toward her groin, despite her protests and clear discomfort.
During the course of the nine-minute ride, Mursal continued to sexually violate the young woman, taking a circuitous route to her destination to avoid CCTV surveillance and to prolong the assault.
It was also revealed that he intentionally drove in the wrong direction at times, further evading detection.
At one point, Mursal reportedly asked the victim to accompany him to a hotel, an overt act demonstrating his intentions.
Furthermore, he grabbed her hand with the apparent aim of persuading her to touch him, but she managed to pull away from his grasp.
The court was informed that the environment was dark and deserted, with no witnesses around, leaving the victim in a state of complete vulnerability and fear.
As she recounted in her victim impact statement, she felt isolated and terrified, knowing no one was nearby to help.
The attack concluded when Mursal eventually dropped her off, but not at her intended destination.
Instead, he left her a short distance away from the hotel, likely to avoid being captured on security cameras.
She was, in effect, trapped and exploited during this period of apparent trust from her driver.
In sentencing, Judge Farrer stressed the gravity of the offence, describing it as a sustained and calculated attack on a young woman who had placed her trust in him.
He underscored how the victim’s sense of safety had been shattered by the incident, leading her to change her behaviour significantly — notably, her reluctance to use taxis alone after the attack.
Mursal, who resides on Cromwell Street in Nechells, Birmingham, was convicted after a trial and sentenced to two years in prison.
Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, emphasizing the court’s stance on the severity of his actions.
Defense lawyer Simon Hanns highlighted Mursal’s character, noting his background and circumstances, including fleeing persecution in Somalia.
He also mentioned that Mursal still maintained his innocence and could not show remorse.
It was also revealed that he has a wife and three children, one of whom is severely disabled, and that he had previously worked as an Uber driver but had now lost his job due to this incident.
