NIGEL PHILLIPS FROM GOWER JAILED FOR 10 YEARS AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN SWANSEA

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Swansea community, Nigel Phillips, a 36-year-old taxi driver from the village of Crofty in Gower, has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for heinous sexual offenses committed within the Swansea area.

The court proceedings revealed that Phillips was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl and indecently assaulting another female passenger. Despite his denial of the charges, a jury at Swansea Crown Court found him guilty last month, leading to his sentencing on Thursday.

The police have indicated that the investigation into Phillips' conduct is ongoing, with reports from two additional women who have come forward with complaints about his behavior. Authorities have stated that these new allegations have prompted a fresh inquiry into his actions.

During the trial, it was disclosed that Phillips exploited his position as a taxi driver to target young women for sexual assault. One particularly disturbing incident occurred in November 2001, when Phillips picked up three girls from a nightclub. After dropping two of them off, he veered into a dark lane and raped the third girl, who was only 15 years old at the time.

The victim was too frightened to report the assault immediately, and Phillips, who resided in Crofty, believed he had successfully evaded justice. However, the situation escalated when his older victim grew tired of his persistent sexual advances. She requested her taxi company not to send Phillips again, but he later reappeared in disguise and assaulted her after she entered his cab, mistakenly believing she was in a safe environment.

Judge John Diehl handed down a total sentence of ten years, with Phillips receiving nine years for the rape and an additional one year for the indecent assault. The judge also imposed strict restrictions, banning Phillips from working with children or driving taxis indefinitely. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender with the police until further notice.

Addressing the severity of the crimes, Judge Diehl emphasized the breach of trust involved, stating, “Both these offences constitute a gross breach of trust. Members of the public taking taxis and cabs are entitled to be able to place their trust in the driver.”

As the sentence was announced, Phillips, known colloquially as ‘Psycho,’ smiled at relatives in the public gallery. He was visibly pleased as he was sentenced to nine years for rape and one year for indecent assault, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the impact on his victims.