Amer Salamat

A taxi driver from Fenham, Newcastle, has been convicted of sexual assault after inappropriately touching and attempting to kiss a vulnerable female passenger during a late-night journey.

The incident occurred when Amer Salamat, aged 55, picked up the woman from a taxi rank in Newcastle city centre and drove her home to County Durham. During the trip, Salamat lectured the passenger about religion, professed his liking for her, provided his phone number, and then tried to kiss her while touching her leg. The woman, who was alone in the vehicle, immediately disclosed the assault to her family upon arriving home, and the matter was promptly reported to the police.

Salamat, residing on Wingrove Road in Fenham, denied the charge of sexual assault. However, following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court, he was found guilty. The court imposed a six-month prison sentence, which was suspended for 18 months. Additionally, Salamat was placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years and banned from working as a taxi driver for life.

Detective Constable Christopher Bentham from Durham Constabulary’s Digital Investigations Unit commended the victim's bravery in the investigation. In a statement, he said: “The victim in this case has shown enormous bravery throughout the investigation - from coming forward and speaking out straight away to giving evidence in court and facing Salamat. Salamat completely abused his position of trust as a taxi driver by trying to groom a vulnerable woman who was alone in his car. I hope that the conclusion of the trial will allow the victim to close this chapter of her life and move on.”

The case was reported by ITV News Tyne Tees on 8 November 2022, highlighting the importance of passenger safety in licensed taxis within the North East region.