A man who falsely posed as a taxi driver has been convicted after a Scottish court ruled that he deliberately deceived and unlawfully detained a young woman during what should have been a routine journey home.
At Falkirk Sheriff Court, jurors found Mahmoud Kalawizada, 32, guilty of exploiting a 22-year-old woman’s trust after she approached his car near a taxi rank in Stirling in the early hours of the morning. His dark blue BMW was parked beside the rank, creating the impression it was a licensed taxi, despite Kalawizada having no authority to offer transport.
After the woman entered the vehicle and provided her address, Kalawizada diverted from the expected route, making unexplained stops and driving through unfamiliar areas. Her fear escalated when the car stopped on a quiet residential street in Tillicoultry and she believed the doors had been locked.
The court heard that Kalawizada touched the woman without consent, prompting her to scream for help. She managed to escape, and audio evidence later captured her distress.
The jury rejected Kalawizada’s denial, returning a unanimous guilty verdict. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing, with the sheriff describing his actions as predatory and dangerous.
