A TAXI driver who repeatedly sexually assaulted a passenger has been sent to prison.

Mansour Sangsary, 64, of Chalfont Drive, Hove, was given a sentence totalling seven-and-a-half years when he appeared at Brighton Crown Court today.

Sangsary, a licensed Brighton and Hove taxi driver at the time, was in his cab when it was hailed by the 38-year-old woman outside a club in Pool Valley, Brighton, in the early hours of May 19 in 2019.

He then started driving her towards her home in Worthing.

However, towards the end of the journey, he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, and she was only able to get away when the taxi was near her home.

He had been convicted in June after a six-day trial of four counts of sexual assault.

He will also be a registered sex offender indefinitely and has been given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court order.

This order will prohibit him from any employed or voluntary driving, other than of people known to him on a purely social basis.

Detective constable Angela Harvey of the Brighton and Hove Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: "We immediately began enquiries, and CCTV and automatic number plate recognition, together with information from the victim and witnesses, soon led us to Sangsary.

"Everyone should feel safe in a licensed taxi, and we are glad to have been able to help achieve justice for the victim, who gave evidence in court that helped secure the verdict.

"Please always report sexual offences to us, we will always investigate and also ensure you have access to sources of further support and advice."

See the Sussex Police website for further information on reporting sexual offences.

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