Fake taxi driver raped vulnerable women after luring them into his car on nights out and driving them to remote locations

• Nazim Asmal lured his three victims into his car as they made their way home 

A vile rapist posed as a taxi driver to lure vulnerable women into his car before taking them to remote locations and attacking them, a court heard.

Nazim Asmal, 34, lured his three victims as they made their way home from nights out.

He first struck in October 2021 by picking up his victim in Preston city centre.

Asmal took her on a journey of around 10 minutes before raping her and returning her to the town centre where she had to ask a stranger for help.

Nazim Asmal, pictured, a homeless man, formerly of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four counts of rape

It was almost a year and a half before the second known incident in March 2023.

Another woman was on a night out in Darwen before being picked up by the predator.

Asmal drove her to the outskirts of town and raped her.

He managed to get hold of her phone number and called her again the following month.

She recognised his voice as he brazenly asked her ‘if she wanted to do something?’

It was on the same night that he picked up a third victim in the Darwen town centre.

He deliberately drove in the wrong direction and said: ‘You don’t want to pay for this taxi, do you?’

Then he drove her to a secluded area and raped her.

Detectives identified Asmal after his black Toyota Yaris car was picked up on CCTV cameras.

Asmal, a homeless man, formerly of Balaclava Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to four counts of rape when he appeared at Preston Crown Court on Friday, November 17. He will be sentenced on February 13.

Detectives identified Asmal after his black Toyota Yaris car was picked up on CCTV cameras. Pictured, Preston Crown Court

Detective Inspector Darren Irving, from Lancashire Police, said: ‘Asmal deliberately targeted his victims because of their vulnerable state and subjected them to serious sexual assaults.

‘Although today’s headlines will quite rightly focus on Asmal’s abhorrent defending, my thoughts are very much with the victims who continue to be supported by specially trained officers.

‘If you or somebody you know has been the victim of a sexual offence I would encourage you to contact the police knowing you will be listened to, believed and that we will do everything we can to put the perpetrator before the courts.’

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