Gloucester taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger has sentence increased
A Gloucester taxi driver who sexually assaulted a passenger has had his sentence increased to four years in prison.
Taranjit Singh, also known as Tony, was working as a cab driver in November 2021 when he picked up a woman and failed to take her home. Instead, he drove to an industrial estate.
The victim, who had fallen asleep in the vehicle, woke up to find Singh assaulting her.
Singh, now 50, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault and sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court on 18 October 2024. He was initially handed a 24-month prison term, suspended for two years.
The Attorney General’s Office referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. Judges ruled the sentence was too lenient and, on 21 January, increased it to four years in prison.
Singh will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. He has also been given an indefinite restraining order preventing contact with the victim and has been banned from working as a taxi driver for 10 years.
A judge issued a warrant for Singh’s arrest the day after the Court of Appeal hearing. He is believed to have left the country, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.
Detective Constable Annabel Brittain said: “We work tirelessly to ensure individuals like Singh are put before the courts and victims receive the justice they deserve.
“The sentence is ultimately a matter for the judge to determine and out of our hands, but I am pleased to see that Singh's sentence has now been increased to reflect the severity of his offences. This is welcomed by the victim; and I hope too this is reassuring to members of the public while deterring offenders.
“Singh’s disappearance is cowardly but I am hopeful that he will soon be located so he can begin his sentence behind bars.
“I would urge anyone who has been sexually assaulted to report it to police and be reassured that they will be supported and that their reports will be thoroughly and sensitively investigated."
Anita Hudson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for Crown Prosecution Service South West, said: “We would like to thank the victim for her courage and bravery in supporting this prosecution, despite the significant impact that this incident has had on her.
“We felt strongly that the suspended sentence imposed following the trial did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence or the significant impact upon the victim. The case was therefore referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing scheme, resulting in the sentence being reviewed and replaced with one of four years imprisonment.
“We are pleased that we were able to deliver justice for the victim in this case.
“We want every victim of sexual assault to have the confidence to come forward to report abuse, in the knowledge that support is available and that the police and CPS are committed to securing justice.”
