Cab driver jailed for 19 years for raping two women

A cab driver has been jailed for 19 years after he was found guilty of raping two women.

Michael Mehari, 34, of Kennington Lane, appeared at Inner London Crown Court yesterday where he was sentenced for three counts of rape.

The first attack took place on December 29, 2019. A woman in her 20s was on her way home from a night out and was hit on the head before being attacked in the street in the Kennington Park Road area.

The second attack took place in the early hours of March 20, 2022, when a woman, also in her 20s, had booked a mini cab to take her home from a night out.

She got into Mehari’s private hire vehicle, believing it was her taxi. She dozed off in the back of the car and awoke to find Mehari attacking her.

She confronted him, left the vehicle and reported the incident to transport staff at a nearby Tube station, who called police.

Mehari was sentenced to two counts of rape for the second attack.

An investigation was launched and support was provided to the victim. Enquiries led to the arrest of Mehari. A DNA sample, taken in custody, linked him to both the 2019 and 2022 offences.

Detective Constable Tristan Jones, of the Met’s Central South Command, said: “Mehari is a dangerous opportunist who actively sought lone women.

“Identifying and apprehending those who commit violence against women and girls is a priority to which we are absolutely committed.

“I applaud the bravery of the victims in this case. I sincerely hope that the sentence handed to Mehari provides them with a degree of closure and a sense that justice has been done.

“I urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault to contact police or a support agency. Please don’t suffer in silence.”

Pictured top: Michael Mehari (Picture: The Met)