Taxi Driver Ian Phillips Jailed for Raping Woman at Beach

Ian Phillips, a taxi driver from Noble Street, Easington Colliery, was convicted of a serious sexual assault after taking advantage of a vulnerable, heavily intoxicated woman. The incident occurred in Sunderland after he loitered in the city centre following his shift. Two passers-by helped the woman into Phillips's vehicle, and instead of ensuring she returned home safely, he drove her to the Hendon beach area where he committed a rape. Phillips had previously turned off the cameras inside his taxi and logged off from work, a clear indication of premeditation. The victim described herself as "mortal drunk" and suffered severe mental health issues as a result of the assault, including anxiety, depression, and suspected PTSD. She recounted her experience, saying, "The incident left me broken as a person. I have no self-esteem or confidence. I don't sleep because of flashbacks and night terrors." She also expressed how stressful the court proceedings were, adding, "Having to go through the court case was stressful. He knew what he had done to me yet still made me go through a court case. I have a very long way to go to try and find my new normal. I don't think I will ever be the person I was before this." During his arrest, Phillips claimed the encounter was consensual and that he had logged off from work to earn extra cash rather than to avoid longer jobs. Despite denying the rape initially, he was found guilty by a jury following a trial. Judge Robert Spragg sentenced Phillips to 12 years in prison with an extended licence period of five years, totaling 17 years, and ordered him to abide by a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order. The judge highlighted that the incident involved planning and exploitation of the victim's vulnerability, stating, "This was a sustained and prolonged incident. You drove her to two different places, ending at the beach where you raped her."