Woman on trial after falsely accusing taxi driver of rape
A 27 year old woman has appeared in court after making a false accusation of rape against a taxi driver.
Laura Hood had claimed that Haroon Younas launched a sex attack after stopping his cab and climbing inside the back of his taxi after a boozy night out with friends.
As a result, 29 year old Younas spent 20 hours in police custody before being released without charge.
The court heard how Younas had told police that the tracking device would prove the vehicle had been driven straight to Hood’s home in Stockport, Greater Manchester, without stopping.
As a result of the false allegation Hood is now on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court where she has denied perverting the course of justice. The court was told she was out with friends on 7 January 2017, in Manchester city centre when she got into Mr Younas' taxi at around 1.10am, asking to be taken to her home address.
She was then informed that the fare would be approximately £25. The cabbie stopped at a cash machine, where Hood was seen on CCTV withdrawing money from the ATM. She then returned to the taxi before being dropped off.
According to a report in The Sun, the court then heard how Hood began sobbing and was shaking and unable to breathe, she then told her mum she had been raped.
Her description of her attacker was a man of Asian origin, aged around 58 with a thin face and no facial hair. This didn’t match the description of Mr Younas.
The court heard that when police officers visited her home address, Hood was described as ”extremely distraught” and hiding under bedding.
Hood later told police that she had been out with her friends in Manchester and lost her phone.
She then told police that she saw people getting out of a taxi and went over to ask how much to Stockport.
Hood then went into graphic detail to the police regarding the alleged attack.
The court heard that Mr Younas was then arrested and was forced to undergo intimate testing by police officers before being told he was clear to go. When police confronted Hood with the tracker evidence and the fact Mr Younas did not match the description of the suspect, she maintained she had been raped. The trial continues.
Image Source: Geograph
Image Author: Mike Kirby
