Taxi driver jailed for attacking three women in Norwich

Alexandru Tapurin, 36, was working as a self-employed taxi driver for ABC in Norwich when he picked up the women – whose identities cannot be verified for legal reasons – from pubs in the city to other people's homes.

ABC Taxis in Norwich (Image: ABC Taxis) Norwich Crown Court heard that during the attacks, which took place between January 19 and 22 this year, at least two of the victims were locked in Tapurin's Toyota.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Prosecutor Danielle O'Donovan said Tapurin picked up the first victim at the William IV pub and told her she was “attractive and really pretty”.

He dropped her off at a friend's house and told her to take his number so she could call him when she wanted to pick him up.

When she later got back into his car, Tapurin – who used a Romanian interpreter in court – drove into a side street and locked the taxi doors.

Miss O'Donovan said the victim, who was sitting in the passenger seat, became “very anxious” and “tried to put some distance” between them.

The woman said she wanted to go home before he leaned over and asked for “half an hour,” but she said “no.”

He leaned forward again, kissed her neck, and placed his hands between her legs, touching her over her clothes for about 15 minutes.

Tapurin finally unlocked the door before letting her go and told her, “See you again.”

Miss O'Donovan said he then picked up a second 48-year-old woman from the Fiveways pub.

Fiveways Pub (Image: Google) He asked the victim, who was sitting in the front seat, if she wanted sex and if he could come home with her when they arrived.

She said no, but he continued to “harass” her before grabbing her hand and forcing her to touch him.

In another incident, a third woman, then 18 years old, was taken alone from the Bell Hotel.

The Bell Hotel, Norwich (Image: Newsquest) The victim sat in the back seat of the taxi and Tapurin insulted her, telling her she was “beautiful” before turning into a side street.

He stopped the car, turned to her and said, “Shall we do this?”

The woman said “no,” but he turned around and touched her skin before taking her home later.

Tapurin, of Tizzick Close, Norwich, appeared in court for sentencing on Friday after previously admitting three counts of sexual assault.

Alexandru Tapurin (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Lord Justice Edis sentenced him to 21 months in prison and accused him of “exercising predatory behaviour”.

He said Tapurin had admitted three “serious sexual offences” against three single women who “just wanted to get home safely”.

Lord Justice Edis said each of them had trusted him to take them home, but he had “exploited that trust” and sexually abused them.

In his mitigating statement, Michael Clare acknowledged that there had been a “breach of trust” towards all three victims.

He said Tapurin, who had previously been of good character, had confessed to the crimes, sparing the victims the ordeal of appearing in court and giving evidence.

Mr Clare said the defendant had shown deep, “sincere” remorse and had a very clear understanding of his crime.

Tapurin was also given a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.

A spokesman for ABC Taxis said: “The disturbing incident involving Alexandru Tapurin is completely unacceptable and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families.”

“As soon as we learned of the incidents involving Tapurin, he was reported to the local licensing authority, his license was revoked and he was permanently banned from driving for ABC Taxis.”

After the case, DS Ricki Peake, who led the investigation, said Tapurin had committed a “major breach of trust”.

He praised the victims for their “courage and strength to reveal themselves” after what was surely a “terrible” ordeal.