A taxi driver who laughed as he sexually assaulted a woman in his cab has been jailed for six months.

Gentian Duka, 26, locked the terrified nursery nurse in his cab after she ordered a taxi home from a friend's house in Eastbourne.

Duka made a pass at his 21-year-old victim and then tried to kiss her as she rejected his advances.

When she begged him to let her go he laughed at her and sexually assaulted her.

Duka denied the attack during a trial at Lewes Crown Court last month but was convicted by a majority verdict.

He claimed the woman had kissed him on the cheek, asked for his phone number and pleaded with him to go out on a date.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Duka started asking her personal questions during the ten minute journey in November, 2007.

As the cab pulled up outside her house he lent across her and locked the door.

She said: “He said he wanted my number. He shouted at me and asked for my number again.

“I felt very scared. I felt even more scared when he put his hand on my thigh. The more I tried to move away his grip on my legs got stronger.”

She said that he started to sexually assault her even though she told him to stop.

Duka, an Albanian who has lived in Britain for eight years, worked for Eastbourne and County Taxis.

Recorder Jeremy Gold, QC, jailed Duka for six months when he appeared for sentence at Hove Crown Court yesterday. (thu) Duka, of Cavendish Road, Eastbourne, is also banned from working as a driver for seven years where he would be alone with females of any age.

He must also register as a sex offender for the same period.

Recorder Gold told him: “You decided to make a pass at this young girl, kissed her against her will and sexually assaulted her.

“When she became frightened and upset and asked you to let her go you laughed at her.

“It was a horrible experience for a girl who trusted you to do your job and get her home safely.

“You denied this offence at trial and you continue to deny it now.

“Either you can't or won't accept what you did or the fact that you behaved disgracefully.”