BIRMINGHAM
 
A taxi driver who raped a “vulnerable” woman who had been out celebrating her birthday has been jailed for 11-and-half-years.

Mohammed Shabir picked her up outside a gay club in Birmingham in the early hours of September 22 2013.

Birmingham Crown Court heard she had , had an argument with her partner and was looking to get a taxi home., the Birmingham Mail reports.

Shabir, 39, of Hutton Road, Handsworth instead took the woman, who barely spoke English, to a quiet B&B in Erdington where he subjected her to a humiliating rape ordeal.

Shabir, who was convicted of two charges of rape by a jury at the city’s crown court, was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

The court heard that the woman, who spoke very little English, had earlier been involved in an argument with her partner.

Judge Murray Creed said: “She was clearly distressed when she encountered you in your taxi outside the club she had been visiting.

“I have no doubt that in her mind she thought she was getting into a taxi and that she would be going home.”

The defendant had initially driven towards Five Ways before then changing direction and going to the B&B in Slade Road.

During the journey Shabir had quizzed the victim about her sexual orientation.

The judge continued: “I am also satisfied as far as your culpability is concerned there was significant planning.

“You phoned from your cab to the B&B and paid for a room.

“You were to say you had used it on previous occasions.

“I also believe there was an abuse of position of trust.

“She was entitled to believe she was in a vehicle that would be traceable.

“I am also satisfied there was targeting of a vulnerable victim.

“The location was remote. It was on the opposite side of the city from where she lived.”

Once in the B&B the victim was subjected to a number of hours of “degradation and humiliation,” Shabir ignoring her pleas that she did not want to have sex.

Judge Creed said Shabir had later tried to ring the woman while she was making a complaint at a police station.

Although the number had come up as withheld officers were able to trace Shabir who, shortly afterwards, changed the taxi firm he worked for.

Rob Cowley, defending, said there had been a certain degree of opportunism about the offence.

He went on: “he had been working as a taxi driver for a number of years, since 2002, without a single complaint received until this particular morning.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/taxi-driver-who-raped-vulnerable-6378348
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WOLVERHAMPTON

 A family has suffered ‘off the scale stress’ after their pet parrot of 22 years was stolen – leaving the parrot’s girlfriend pining for his return.

Owen Harrison, from Wolverton, has been the owner of Charlie – a well known Soloman Island Eclectus Parrot who frequents the city’s pubs with him – since the bird was four months old.

But after Charlie was grabbed from a taxi in Islington on Saturday evening, where Owen was visiting a friend, Charlie’s parrot girlfriend Ruby has abandoned her fertile eggs.

But the Harrison family haven’t abandoned hope of finding him, and have set up a social media campaign to find him – and are even offering a £500 reward.

Owen, aged 40, told OneMK: “He comes out with me all the time. He’s very well known in Milton Keynes and he comes along to the pubs such as The Craufurd Arms and The Galleon with me.

“I have had him since he was four months old and he’s just got used to being out and about. He’s 22 years old and he’s not the best flyer, he’s a bit lazy.

http://www.onemk.co.uk/news/2015/9/familys-off-the-scale-stress-after-well-known-parrot-is-stolen-from-taxi-030920150064.html
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WIRRAL/LIVERPOOL 
 
 Concerns are growing for a 31-year-old who has been reported missing in Wirral.

It is believed Pierre Ynard ook a taxi from his home in Bebington and was dropped off at the Pier Head at around 8.20am yesterday.

Pierre is described as white, around 5’ 7” tall of medium build and has black hair, brown eyes and wears glasses. He is believed to be wearing the black jacket he is pictured in.

He is a French Canadian national and believed to have been living in the Bebington area for at least the past 18 months.

Police are very concerned for his welfare as this is totally out of character. Pierre, or anyone who has seen him, or knows of his whereabouts, is asked to call Merseyside Police on 0151 604 3676 or the police non-emergency line on 101 or the Missing People on 116 000.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/missing-wirral-man-pierre-ynard-9985744